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).
Bhishma said: “O King, then the sages beginning with Richika came to me along with Narada and spoke thus: ‘Dear child, withdraw from the battle and uphold the honor of Parashurama, the foremost of Brahmins.’ But I replied to them, keeping in view the duty of a Kshatriya: ‘This is my vow in the world—I do not, at any time, turn back from battle.’”
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.