During the Mahabharata war there was fierce fighting for nine days. On the tenth day, Arjuna and Bhishma came face-to-face. Arjuna showered arrows on Bhishma, which pierced every inch of his body. Bhisma fell on the ground, his body supported by arrows. Bhisma lay on a bed of arrows with his head hanging head. The dying Bhisma told Arjuna, that he was thirsty. Arjuna shot an arrow to the ground and a fountain of water gushed out of it that reached Bhisma's mouth. Bhishma blessed Arjuna. He called Duryodhana and warned him for the last time to come to a settlement with the Pandavas. Karna also came to pay homage to Bhisma and begged pardon for his past misconduct.  The fall of Bhisma marked the beginning of the defeat of the Kauravas.