एष भीष्म: शान्तनवो देवै: सर्वैर्निवारित: | निवर्तस्व रणादस्मादिति चैव प्रसादित:
eṣa bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo devaiḥ sarvair nivāritaḥ | nivartasva raṇād asmād iti caiva prasāditaḥ ||
«Éste es Bhīṣma, hijo de Śāntanu, contenido por todos los dioses. Y también se le ha suplicado con insistencia: “Apártate de esta batalla”.»
भीष्म उवाच
Even the mightiest warrior is subject to higher moral and cosmic restraint: when war threatens to violate dharma, wise counsel—and even divine intervention—urges withdrawal and self-control rather than unchecked valor.
Bhīṣma identifies himself as Śāntanu’s son and states that all the gods have held him back; he has been urged with the words “desist from this battle,” highlighting an attempt to prevent or restrain the outbreak of conflict.