Shloka 9

Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ततो<पश्यत्‌ पितरं जामदग्न्यः पितुस्तथा पितरं चास्य मान्यम्‌ | ते तत्र चैनं परिवार्य तस्थु- रूचुश्नैनं सान्त्वपूर्व तदानीम्‌

Transliteration

tato 'paśyat pitaraṃ jāmadagnyaḥ pituḥ tathā pitaraṃ cāsya mānyam | te tatra cainaṃ parivārya tasthuḥ r̥cūśnainaṃ sāntvapūrvaṃ tadānīm ||

Translation

Then Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma) saw his father Jamadagni, and also his father’s revered father, the venerable sage Ṛcīka. There, they stood surrounding him on all sides, and at that moment they addressed him with words of consolation.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अपश्यत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• जामदग्न्यः: Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• जामदग्न्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जामदग्न्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पितुः: of (his) father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• तथा: also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अस्य: of him, his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• मान्यम्: venerable, respected
• मान्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (वृञ् आवरणे/वरणे)
• Form: absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), active

• तस्थुः: stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• ऊचुः: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• एनम्: to him / him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• सान्त्वपूर्वम्: with consolation first; consolingly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्त्व + पूर्व
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular, adverbial (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• तदानीम्: at that time
• तदानीम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम्

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• Jamadagni
• Ṛcīka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical role of elders and ancestors in calming and guiding a powerful individual: when emotions surge, dharma is protected by restraint (śama) and by heeding wise, compassionate counsel rather than acting impulsively.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that Paraśurāma encounters his father Jamadagni and his revered grandfather Ṛcīka; they gather around him and speak soothingly, attempting to console and steady him in that tense moment.