Shloka 32
भीष्मस्वप्न-स्मृत्युपाख्यानम् | Bhīṣma’s Dream-Linked Recollection of the Paraśurāma Combat
कोअन्यस्तमुत्सहेज्जेतुमुद्यतेषुं महीपति: । साहं भीष्मविनाशाय तपस्तप्स्ये सुदारुणम्,राजन्! तब साध्वी अम्बाने हाथ जोड़कर गंगाजीसे कहा--“चारुलोचने! भीष्मने युद्धमें परशुरामजीको परास्त कर दिया; फिर दूसरा कौन ऐसा राजा है, जो धनुष-बाण लेकर खड़े हुए भीष्मको युद्धमें परास्त कर सके? अतः मैं भीष्मके विनाशके लिये अत्यन्त कठोर तपस्या कर रही हूँ
ko 'nyas tam utsahej jetum udyateṣuṁ mahīpatiḥ | sāhaṁ bhīṣma-vināśāya tapas tapsye sudāruṇam, rājan ||
"Who else among kings could dare to defeat him—Bhīṣma—when he stands with bow drawn and arrows ready? Therefore, O King, I shall undertake exceedingly harsh austerities for Bhīṣma’s destruction."
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perceived invincibility of a dharma-bound warrior (Bhīṣma) in open combat and shows how, when direct force seems futile, a character turns to tapas (austerity) as an alternative means—raising ethical tension between personal vengeance and the moral weight of destroying a revered elder.
The speaker declares that no king can defeat Bhīṣma when he is battle-ready; therefore the speaker resolves to undertake extremely severe austerities with the aim of bringing about Bhīṣma’s downfall.