“The appearance of Lord Krishna at the deathbed of Bhishmaji is due to his being an unflinching devotee of the Lord. Arjuna had some bodily relation with Krishna because the Lord happened to be his maternal cousin. But Bhishma had no such bodily relation. Therefore the cause of attraction was due to the intimate relation of the soul.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.9.22 Purport)