Abstract
Bhīṣma's falling to the bed of arrows and lying on it, is one of the most famous scenes from the Mahābhārata. After Bhīṣma falls from his chariot, he does not touch the ground, supported by arrows (6.114.81-99), and is provided with a pillow and water (ambhas) by Arjuna, also by means of arrows.
This narrative has an earlier counterpart in Udyogaparvan, where Bhīṣma also falls from his chariot during a battle against Rāma Jāmadagnya, and again, does not touch the ground because he is readily caught by eight mysterious twice-borns, who sprinkle water on him and comfort him. (5.183.10-18) In this paper, the two short narratives will be compared, especially with respect to the motif of not touching the ground, taking into account Bhīṣma's previous life as one (eighth) of the Vasus, or the principal Vasu, Dyaus. The compound dyāvāpṛthivī is often used in the Vedas for the universal parents, and Dyaus is generally mentioned in connection with Pṛthivī.
Furthermore, Bhīṣma's former life is explicitly mentioned in the Rāma Jāmadagnya episode; but in both the aforementioned Mahābhārata episodes, not touching the ground is emphasized. The paper will deal with possible interpretations of Bhīṣma's not touching the ground as avoiding death, and also the sin of killing one's guru or pupil; as enhancing Bhīṣma's position between heaven and earth (antarikṣe), and between gods and men; and as a symbol of Bhīṣma's vow of celibacy, as compared to Dyaus's essential and highly procreative relationship with Pṛthivī.