Shloka 12
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
इदं निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिदस्माभि: प्रागुदाहतम् । शस्त्रधारणमत्युग्रं तच्चाकार्य कृतं त्वया
idaṃ nimitte kasmiṃścid asmābhiḥ prāg udāhṛtam | śastradhāraṇam atyugraṃ tac cākāryaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Schon früher, bei einer ähnlichen Gelegenheit, haben wir dir dies gesagt. Waffen zu ergreifen ist eine überaus schreckliche Tat; darum hast du getan, was nicht getan werden sollte.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma underscores the moral gravity of violence: taking up weapons is not a casual choice but a fearful, ethically weighty act, and one should refrain from it unless truly justified by dharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhishma admonishes the addressed person, reminding them that he had warned earlier; despite that warning, they have proceeded to arm themselves, committing an improper act in Bhishma’s judgment.