Who do you think is main villian of Mahabharat - Page 15

What is Shikhandi doing there then, if Arjun killed him fairly in a battle? What's the need of Shikhandi who isn't even as great a warrior as Arjun.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

What is Shikhandi doing there then, if Arjun killed him fairly in a battle? What's the need of Shikhandi who isn't even as great a warrior as Arjun.

Yudhistira and Shikhandi's conversation while Shikhandi was flying away (Running away from the battle) when Bheeshma cut his bow states it was Shikhandi's vow to kill Bheeshma, Yudi asks him to fulfill his vow -

Truly do I say this.--Even this was thy oath. That oath of thine thou dost not fulfil inasmuch as thou dost not slay Devavrata in battle. O hero, be not a person of unfulfilled vow. Take care of thy virtue, race, and fame. Behold Bhishma of terrible impetuosity scorching all my troops with his innumerable arrows of fierce energy and destroying everything in a moment like Death himself. With thy bow cut off avoiding the battle, and vanquished by the royal son of Santanu, whither dost thou go, forsaking thy kinsmen and brothers? This doth not become thee. Beholding Bhishma of infinite prowess, and our army routed and flying away, thou art assuredly, O son of Drupada, frightened, since the colour of thy face is pale. Unknown to thee, O hero, Dhananjaya hath engaged in the dreadful battle. Celebrated over the whole world, why O hero, art thou afraid today of Bhishma. 1'--Hearing these words of king, Yudhishthira the just, that were harsh, though fraught with sound reason, the high-souled Sikhandin, regarding them as good counsel, speedily set himself about slaying Bhishma.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

What is Shikhandi doing there then, if Arjun killed him fairly in a battle? What's the need of Shikhandi who isn't even as great a warrior as Arjun.

Bhishma himself suggested the Pandavas to place Shikhandi in the battle. This implies he seeked redemption in the Amba episode.

Placing Shikhandi on forefront implies that he led the warriors. There used to be divisions in the armies. The Pandavas were a part of Shikhandi's division.

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

To respect the purpose of the reincarnation.

Bhishma himself suggested the Pandavas to place Shikhandi in the battle. This implies he seeked redemption in the Amba episode.

Nothing of respect either. This story of reincarnation is only told by Bheeshm not by anyone else, not even by Shikhandi. As it is if you remove divinity, reincarnation doesn't make much sense.

Had it been for respect he would have not targeted Shikhandi even during the earlier combats.

It definitely was a face saving. Till the 9th day, Arjun was reluctant and not willing to attack Bheeshm aggressively. After the incidence of Krishna getting into the war with weapons, he finally decided to get aggressive.

However still having love for Bheeshm, he couldn't have given him a shameful death, so he met Bheeshm that night, and made the plan of giving somehow a respectable death. So this entire story of Shikhandi being Anna's reincarnation and that he wouldn't attack Shikhandi was woven and that's how Arjun killed him (although I am now thinking HearMeRoar's theory could be true as well)

Shikhandi was simply a face saving nothing like respect/shield etc

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

To respect the purpose of the reincarnation.

Bhishma himself suggested the Pandavas to place Shikhandi in the battle. This implies he seeked redemption in the Amba episode.

Exactly, he himself said, and didn't Amba want to be the reason for his death? Didn't he say he won't fight a woman ie Amba/shikhandin?

Then if it was a normal battle I don't understand how Amba fulfilled the purpose. 🤔

Originally posted by: FlauntPessimism

Nothing of respect either. This story of reincarnation is only told by Bheeshm not by anyone else, not even by Shikhandi. As it is if you remove divinity, reincarnation doesn't make much sense.

Had it been for respect he would have not targeted Shikhandi even during the earlier combats.

It definitely was a face saving. Till the 9th day, Arjun was reluctant and not willing to attack Bheeshm aggressively. After the incidence of Krishna getting into the war with weapons, he finally decided to get aggressive.

However still having love for Bheeshm, he couldn't have given him a shameful death, so he met Bheeshm that night, and made the plan of giving somehow a respectable death. So this entire story of Shikhandi being Anna's reincarnation and that he wouldn't attack Shikhandi was woven and that's how Arjun killed him (although I am now thinking HearMeRoar's theory could be true as well)

Shikhandi was simply a face saving nothing like respect/shield etc

If we remove divinity, we will have to remove more than half of the things.

He did not target Shikhandi. There are numerous instances of Shikhandi being ignored by him.

Shameful death in Kurukshetra? What even is that? There was nothing shameful in getting defeated in Kurukshetra...that too by someone like Arjuna. Bhishma himself told Duhshasana that the arrows piercing his vitals belong to Arjuna and sang the latter's praises.

That theory of a reincarnation saga being cooked isn't convincing. It's ludicrous.

Originally posted by: FlauntPessimism

Nothing of respect either. This story of reincarnation is only told by Bheeshm not by anyone else, not even by Shikhandi. As it is if you remove divinity, reincarnation doesn't make much sense.

Reincarnation is not a completely divine concept. It is based on the law of karma - you face consequences of your actions if not in your present birth then in the next birth.

Also the concept of the soul never dies. These ade not completely divine hogwash IMO such as Yudhi bringing dead people to life or Surya dev protecting a child in the river or a curse coming true and having intercourse leading to death, or Krishna hiding the sun for Arjun's pran.

These and that Pandavs were demigods is what I think is hogwash.

But the concept of the soul's eternal existence or reincarnation is also a part of philosophy and metaphysics. I also read somewhere that there is scientific evidence too of it.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

Exactly, he himself said, and didn't Amba want to be the reason for his death? Didn't he say he won't fight a woman ie Amba/shikhandin?

Then if it was a normal battle I don't understand how Amba fulfilled the purpose. 🤔

Then Bhishma decided to withdraw after his bows were cut down and the celestials supported his decision.

I find Amba's story very beautiful. She was wronged by a man, she decided that if not in this birth, she will definitely come back in the next birth to be the reason for his death. For a Kshatriya, I think a death in the battlefield is of highest respect. She did come back and just when Bhishma was wishing he dies, even told Arjun what to do, she comes and gives him that. Here, she is relegated to actually a more strong position. Bhishma didn't have the guts to break his vow and help protect her honour. Yet, she got her revenge in such a way that she gave Bhishma his much needed retirement from the battlefield. Also, she contributed in the punishment he received for keeping mum at another woman's humiliation.

I find this very symbolic and philosophical. And I don't think this is something unbelievable like a pot whose food never gets over or a never ending saree given by a man not present anywhere near. Now that is ludicrous and weird.