Yudhisthira was a picture of sorrow. He was not able to speak a word. He looked at Krishna and said, We will never win this war. It is impossible to fight Bhishma. Please tell us what to do? Krishna said, Please do not give way to despair. You have your brothers, all Maharathis and famous in the world for their valour. You have me. Your brothers may be overwhelmed by the affection for Bhishma.
There is no way to win the war till Bhishma is alive. Tomorrow, I will kill Bhishma. No one else seems to be capable of doing this. I have to keep my words given to you and my promise to Draupadi. Arjuna is the only one who can kill Bhishma but he is not putting his best efforts. What can I do? He is my dearest friend. I cannot tell him so many times to kill Bhishma. Now I will have to do it. Yudhisthira's eyes were full of tears. He said, "How can I bear that you shall have to smear your snow white reputation with falsehood because of our incompetence. You promised Duryodhana that you would not fight in the war, nor you would take up arms. What will happen to your promise? It will be an everlasting stigma on our fair name. People will never be able to believe anyone in future, if your words prove untrue. I will rather lose the war than allow you to commit such a breach of your promise." The Pandavas sat thinking to find out a way to kill Bhishma.

After some, Yudhisthira said, "I remember that I went to Bhishma before the war started to seek his blessings. He blessed me saying may you win. His blessings cannot go in vain. We shall go to him to night and request him to tell us some way out to get us out of this mire." Everyone liked Yudhisthira suggestion. Krishna too approved of it. They took off their armours and barefooted walked to Bhishma tent in the silence of the night. Krishna and all the Pandavas went together.

Bhishma was very excited to see Krishna and his beloved grandchildren. All prostrated before him. Bhishma praised Arjuna for his extra ordinary bravery shown in the battlefield. He also praised Abhimanyu. Then he asked then what he could do for them. Why did they visit him at such hours?

Yudhisthira said, "My lord, there seems to be no way for us to win this war. Your blessings for our victory seem to be of no use to us. In your presence victory cannot come to us?" The voice of Yudhisthira was choked while saying all this. Bhishma took Yudhisthira's head in his hands and put his hands on his back. He said, "You cannot win. There is no other way to win the war except killing me. As a Kshatriya I cannot flee from the battlefield. I am bound by my promise to my revered mother Satyavati. I cannot leave Duryodhana side,killing me in the battle is the only solution to your problem, But even that is not easy. I cannot be killed in the battle by any one in the world. I am too powerful and an invincible. I hate my invincibility, I am longing for the death. I want to die like a Kshatriya. My blessed father had granted me a boon. I can choose my own time for dying. The death shall have to wait on me. Now I have done my duty. Nothing remains. I am longing for the release from this body. My child, I am so eager to die but I cannot be killed. Krishna can put to an end to all my agonies. He will not take up arms. He will not fight, bound by his own hands. Arjuna is the only other choice. But, even he may not succeed if I am fighting him, I tell you one secret that can help you to kill me.

I shall not take up arms against a woman or a man who had been a woman once or one who bears a feminine name. Shikhandi was a woman named Amba is his previous birth. He was eldest daughter of the King Kashi, Ambika and Ambalika, your grandmothers were her younger sister. Bhishma told them about the tragic story of Amba, about her oath and her penances and the boon of lord Shankara to her. Amba bore very deep love for Bhishma but it looked like intense hatred to the world. Amba wanted to kill Bhishma to release him from the oath of bachelorhood. This was possible only when Bhishma gave up his body. That was the reason Shikhandi had taken the vow to kill Bhishma. He was one who could remember his earlier life. The Pandavas listened to this sacred tale with awe and amazement. Bhishma said, If Shikhandi comes to fight him he would put down his bow. Arjuna can then kill me. The Pandavas were overwhelmed at the generosity of their grandfather. They touched his feet once again and came out of the tent. Krishna now smiled at Bhishma, who had been shedding tears of joy and said, "You will happy from now on. You shall never be born on the earth. You shall be remembered as the greatest man who ever graced the dynasty of the lunar race." Bhishma smiled back his thanks. They all returned.