The exemplarity of Bhīṣma’s death in the “Mahābhārata”

Abstract

1. The character – 2. The story arc is stretching – 2a. Background – 2b. Climax – 3. Bhīṣma’s faults towards women – 3a. Ambā. – 3b. Draupadī. – 4. Decline and Apogee: dying Bhīṣma as an exemplum – 5. Bhīṣma and Karṇa – 6. Three unequal deaths: Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa – 7. Suspension of the story arc – 8. Laying down the burden – References.