Shloka 17
भीष्म–रामयुद्धवर्णनम्
Bhīṣma’s Account of the Strategic Engagement with Rāma Jāmadagnya
एवं कुरुष्व कौरव्य प्रभाते रथमास्थित: । प्रसुप्तं वा मृतं वेति तुल्यं मन्यामहे वयम्,“कुरुनन्दन! प्रात:काल रथपर बैठकर तुम ऐसा ही करो; क्योंकि हमलोग सोये अथवा मरे हुएको समान ही समझते हैं
evaṁ kuruṣva kauravya prabhāte rathamāsthitaḥ | prasuptaṁ vā mṛtaṁ veti tulyaṁ manyāmahe vayam ||
“O Kaurava prince, do exactly so at daybreak, having mounted your chariot. For in our judgment, one who lies asleep is as good as dead.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma stresses vigilance and timely action: negligence and sleep at a critical moment render a person effectively powerless—no better than dead—so one must be alert and prepared, especially in matters of duty and conflict.
Bhīṣma is instructing a Kaurava prince to act at dawn after mounting the chariot, emphasizing that an unprepared or sleeping person cannot respond to danger or duty; hence sleep is treated as equivalent to death in practical consequence.