Shloka 25
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
राजन्! तब वे ऋचीक आदि मुनि नारदजीके साथ मेरे पास आये और इस प्रकार बोले --तात! तुम्हीं युद्धसे निवृत्त हो जाओ और द्विजश्रेष्ठ परशुरामजीका मान रखो” ।।
rājan! tataḥ te ṛcīka-ādayo munayo nāradena saha mama samīpam āgatyaivam abruvan— “tāta! tvam eva yuddhāt nivartasva, dvijaśreṣṭha-paraśurāmasya mānaṁ rakṣa.” iti. ity avocam ahaṁ tān kṣatra-dharma-vyapekṣayā; mama vratam idaṁ loke—nāhaṁ yuddhāt kadācana (nivarte).
Bhīṣma sprach: „O König, da kamen die Weisen, beginnend mit Ṛcīka, zusammen mit Nārada zu mir und sagten: ‚Mein Sohn, zieh dich aus der Schlacht zurück und wahre die Ehre Paraśurāmas, des Vornehmsten unter den Dvija.‘ Doch ich erwiderte ihnen, im Blick auf die Pflicht eines Kṣatriya: ‚Dies ist mein Gelübde in der Welt — niemals, zu keiner Zeit, wende ich mich vom Kampf ab.‘“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness to one’s svadharma: Bhishma prioritizes the Kshatriya code and his personal vow of not retreating from battle, even when revered sages advise him to yield for the sake of Parashurama’s honor.
Sages led by Richika, accompanied by Narada, approach Bhishma and urge him to withdraw from combat to preserve Parashurama’s prestige. Bhishma refuses, stating that, considering Kshatriya duty, his vow is never to turn back from battle.