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Shloka 1

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

अत-४-शक+ पज्चाशीर्त्याधिकशततमो< ध्याय: देवताओंके मना करनेसे भीष्मका प्रस्वापनास्त्रको प्रयोगमें न लाना तथा पितर, देवता और गंगाके आग्रहसे भीष्म और परशुरामके युद्धकी समाप्ति भीष्म उवाच ततो हलहलाशब्दो दिवि राजन्‌ महानभूत्‌ । प्रस्वापं भीष्म मा स्राक्षीरेति कौरवनन्दन,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्‌! कौरवनन्दन! तदनन्तर “भीष्म! प्रस्वापनास्त्रका प्रयोग न करो” इस प्रकार आकाशमें महान्‌ कोलाहल मच गया

bhīṣma uvāca | tato halahalāśabdo divi rājan mahān abhūt | prasvāpaṁ bhīṣma mā srākṣīr iti kauravanandana |

Bhīṣma dijo: «Entonces, oh rey—oh gloria del linaje Kuru—se alzó en los cielos un gran clamor: “¡Bhīṣma, no sueltes el arma Prasvāpa, la que induce al sueño!”»

भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular
ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
हलहलाशब्दःa loud 'halahalā' cry/sound
हलहलाशब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहलहला-शब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दिविin heaven/in the sky
दिवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिव्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
महान्great
महान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभूत्arose/occurred/was
अभूत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormAorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular
प्रस्वापम्the sleep(-inducing) weapon (Prasvāpa)
प्रस्वापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रस्वाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भीष्मO Bhishma
भीष्म:
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
माdo not
मा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमा
स्राक्षीःrelease/let loose
स्राक्षीः:
TypeVerb
Rootसृज्
FormAorist (injunctive/precative usage with prohibitive mā), 2nd, Singular
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
कौरवनन्दनO delight of the Kurus
कौरवनन्दन:
TypeNoun
Rootकौरव-नन्दन
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
Kauravanandana (addressed person, a Kuru prince/king)
P
Prasvāpa (sleep-inducing astra/weapon)
H
Heaven/sky (divi)

Educational Q&A

Even in conflict, dharma demands restraint: not every available power should be used. The heavenly prohibition signals that certain weapons or tactics are morally or cosmically unacceptable, and escalation must be checked.

As Bhishma speaks, a great cry arises in the heavens instructing him not to discharge the Prasvāpa (sleep-inducing) weapon, indicating intervention by higher beings to prevent a decisive or improper use of force.