Bahlika (Mahabharata)

Bahlika (Sanskrit: बाह्लिक), also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of the Bahlika kingdom in Hindu literature. He was the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapura and the father of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Kurukshetra War. He had a son, Somadatta and a daughter Pauravi, and grandsons, Bhurishravas, Bhuri and Shala by his son and Avagaha and Nandaka were the grandsons by his daughter, Somadatta had a daughter who married the Kashi king Abhibhu, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.^[1] He is mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.