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
bhīṣma uvāca | tato halahalāśabdo divi rājan mahān abhūt | prasvāpaṁ bhīṣma mā srākṣīr iti kauravanandana |
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja—wahai kebanggaan wangsa Kuru—maka timbullah kegemparan besar di langit: ‘Bhishma, jangan lepaskan senjata Prasvāpa (yang menidurkan)!’”
भीष्म उवाच
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.