Bhishma
Krishna told the Pandavas how Bhishma had formerly been Dyau, the leader of the Vasus. By Vasishtha’s curse, whom the Vasus had offended, they had been obliged to take birth on earth. Although the rishi had granted that they could soon return to heaven, he ordered that Dyau remain on earth for some time, as he was the Vasu’s leader. The Vasus were born as Ganga’s sons, but she had cast each of them into the Ganges at birth, so that they could quickly return to heaven. When Bhishma was born however, she had not cast him into the river. Rather the other Vasus had endowed him with their own power and he had become equal to all of them combined. Thus he was invincible on earth.
