Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

vow-bound hero made vulnerable by his own oath

vow_bound_hero_made_vulnerable_by_his_own_oath

A motif of the Curse, Blessing, and Performative Sacred Speech family, within the sub-family Invulnerability and Restrained Sacred Power. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


hindu

  • Maha-bharata BOOK VII / UDYOGA / BOOK VIII / BHISHMA-BADHA; lines 4511-4647 confidence: high

    Bhishma says he will not fight defeated, surrendered, weaponless, mercy-seeking, fatigued, wounded, or female-born opponents.

    Bhishma's refusal to fight one born female is identified and deliberately used to bring about his fall.

    read in the book