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Question - 41
If 'Krodhi' - the year of the Mahabharata war happened to be the first year of the 5-year Yuga, in which year Bhishma left his mortal coils?
Answer:
In the 5-year Yuga, the year begins in Uttarayana. Bhishma wanted to die in Uttarayana and decided to cast off his body on the 10th day of the war, thinking that it was the proper time to cast of his body. But, lo, it was not so. While falling from his chariot with face turned east a little before sunset, the Sun was still in the southern solstice. The rishi-s watching him from the sky took the form of swans and walked around the fallen Bhishma conversing within themselves that the Sun was still in the south. They then flew away in the direction of the south. Bhishma observing these decided to wait for Uttarayana to leave the earth.
So, his fall was in the year Krodhi but the ultimate release from his body was only after Uttarayana, which marked the beginning of the next year. That year was named Vishvavasu! That was the second year in the 5-year Yuga.
But the wait happened to be too long - for 58 nights, in Bhishma's own words.
