Bhishma - Epic Characters of Mahabharatha

Known as Bhishma Pitamaha, Bhishma was actually Devavratha, King Shanthanu and Mother Ganga's son. He received a boon from his father that he could choose his own time of death. He vowed never to get married and remained the constant guide, teacher, philosopher and friend to the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He kept his promise of never contesting the King's throne . Accordingly, after his father's death he made his brothers, Chitrangada and later, Vichitravirya, the kings.
After both died, his mother requested him to get married and beget children to continue the lineage but he refused to break his vow. Later, Vedavyasa blessed Vichitravirya's queens, Ambika and Ambalike, due to which Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born. Vidura was born to Ambika's maid. Amba nursed a grudge against Bhishma and asked Parashurama to kill him. Both of them got into a mighty duel and both were advised to stop as they were equal to each other.
Bhishma led the Kauravas in the Mahabharatha war but he loved the Pandavas very much and in fact, advised them on how to bring an end to the war. Even when he lay on his bed of arrows he begged Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas. As his hour of death approached, Krishna asked Dharmaraja to get all his doubts about dharma, artha, kama and yoga clarified from the learned Bhishma. Bhishma spent 58 nights on the bed of arrows and only after uttarayana set in, he blessed the Pandavas, took SriKrishna's permission and breathed his last.