Shloka 166
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
मानं कुरुष्व गाड़ेय ब्राह्मणस्य रणाजिरे । भृगुनन्दन! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। दुर्धर्ष वीर! तुमने जो धनुष उठा लिया
bhīṣma uvāca | mānaṃ kuruṣva gāḍeya brāhmaṇasya raṇājire | bhṛgunandana! tubhyaṃ kalyāṇaṃ bhavatu | durdharṣa vīra! tvayā yad dhanuḥ samuddhṛtaṃ tad eva paryāptam | idānīṃ etat tyaja tapaś cara | paśya, imaiḥ sarvair devaiḥ śāntanu-nandano bhīṣmo 'pi nivāritaḥ | te taṃ prasādya idaṃ vadanti— “yuddhāt nivartasva | paraśurāmas te guruḥ | tena saha punaḥ punaḥ yuddhaṃ mā kārṣīḥ | kuruśreṣṭha! paraśurāmaṃ raṇe jetuṃ tava kadācid api na nyāyyam | gaṅgānandana! asmin samaraṅgaṇe sva-brāhmaṇa-guroḥ mānaṃ kuru” |
Bhishma said: “O descendant of Gādhi, show due honor to the Brahmin on the battlefield. O son of Bhrigu, may welfare be yours. O unconquerable hero, it is enough that you have merely lifted your bow—now lay it down and return to austerity. Look: all these gods have even restrained Bhishma, the son of Shantanu. Having pleased him, they say: ‘Withdraw from the fight. Parashurama is your teacher; do not wage war against him again and again. O best of the Kurus, it is never just for you to seek victory over Parashurama in battle. O son of Ganga, in this arena honor your Brahmin guru.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, dharma requires honoring one’s guru—especially a Brahmin preceptor. Seeking to defeat one’s teacher is presented as ethically improper; restraint and reverence are upheld over victory.
Bhishma reports that the gods themselves have restrained him and urge him to withdraw from repeated combat with Parashurama, reminding him that Parashurama is his guru and that it is not right for Bhishma to aim at defeating him in battle.