THE VOW

It was an intense battle

Being fought with utter passion

Both the warriors were taking their shot

With a grim determination

Arrows were soaring in the sky

Like a streaking star

The sound of the vibrating bow wire

Could be heard near and far

But then the older fellow

Started gaining advantage

The younger guy was losing his grip

Any moment there could be a carnage

An arrow cut across his arm

Another stuck to the side of his chest

The young fellow could not keep up

Even after trying his best

The older warrior was hesitant in fighting

But still he was good

The younger guy was going to lose

Even after doing all he could

The charioteer of the young warrior

Wanted to protect him

But the old pro was relentless today

Charioteer knew his chances are grim

Suddenly there was a flurry of arrows

Which hid the sun

The older fellow was increasing the offensive

There was nowhere to run

The younger warrior

Summoned all his skills

He tried to fight back

He tried to kill

But the old guy was too good

He was not one to tire

He took a perfect shot

And broke the young fellow’s bow wire

The young warrior still stood there

Not wanting to show his back

The old fellow with a helpless face

Continued his attack

Another flurry of arrows came

Which were swift and accurate

They broke the young one’s armour

And thus sealed his fate

It was just a matter of time

Before the young one fell

The charioteer finally had enough

His anger he could no longer quell

Clouds gathered and the earth shook

As the lord broke his deal

He was trembling with anger

When he picked up the chariot’s wheel

With flaring eyes and grave voice

He challenged the old pro

“Come Bheeshm, fight with me..

Go on pick your bow”

The old guy put down his weapons

And kneeled on the battlefield sands

“Kill me my lord

It will be an honour to die at your hands”

The young fellow somehow

Tried to make the things slow

He came to calm down his charioteer

Before he made the blow

“my lord please leave the wheel

And help fix my bow

I will continue the war

You took a no fighting vow”

The lord left the wheel

And glared at the old guy

Bheeshm looked up to the lord

Today was not his day to die

Krishna looked at Bheeshma

And there was a faint hint of smile

Then he turned back and walked away

With a lot of style

Bheeshma was smiling too

As he went back

His weapons were lying in his chariot

Arranged in a neat stack.

He was still not tired

Having energy which defied his age

His smile widened when he remembered

The vow he made in a fit of rage

 “No matter what the condition is

Or how much the war deepens

It doesn’t matter how many warriors Pandavas bring

I will make Krishna pick up a weapon”

He was furious at the choice

Made by his young prince

So he made this vow

And regretted it ever since

But Krishna being the ever kind lord

Intervened just before Arjun was getting killed

He picked up the wheel and stopped the battle

So that Bheeshma’s vow could be fulfilled.

Based on the answer given by Nagarajn Srinavasan on Quora

https://www.quora.com/Mahabharata/Why-did-Krishna-attack-Bhisma-when-he-had-vowed-that-he-would-not-pick-up-a-weapon-in-the-Kurukshetra-war/answer/Nagarajan-Srinivas