Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
पितर ऊचु. मा स्मैवं साहसं तात पुनः कार्षी: कथंचन । भीष्मेण संयुगं गन्तुं क्षत्रियेण विशेषत:
pitar ūcuḥ—mā smaivaṃ sāhasaṃ tāta punaḥ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana | bhīṣmeṇa saṃyugaṃ gantuṃ kṣatriyeṇa viśeṣataḥ ||
পিতৃগণ বললেন—বৎস! আর কখনও কোনোভাবেই এমন দুঃসাহস করো না। ভীষ্মের সঙ্গে—বিশেষত এমন ক্ষত্রিয়ের সঙ্গে—যুদ্ধে প্রবেশ করা তোমার পক্ষে শোভন নয়।
भीष्म उवाच
Ancestral authority warns against reckless heroics: ethical action in war requires discernment of one’s capacity and the opponent’s stature; bravado that ignores prudence is condemned.
The forefathers address a younger figure and forbid him from repeating a previous act of rashness—specifically, from entering combat against Bhīṣma, emphasizing the exceptional danger and impropriety of challenging such a formidable kṣatriya.