Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

त्वत्समो नास्ति लोके5स्मिन्‌ क्षत्रिय: पृथिवीचर: । गम्यतां भीष्म युद्धेडस्मिंस्तोषितो 5हं भृशं त्वया

Transliteration

tvatsamo nāsti loke 'smin kṣatriyaḥ pṛthivī-caraḥ | gamyatāṃ bhīṣma yuddhe 'smin toṣito 'haṃ bhṛśaṃ tvayā ||

Translation

ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ ഭൂമിയിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ക്ഷത്രിയന്മാരിൽ നിനക്കു തുല്യൻ ആരുമില്ല. പോകുക, ഭീഷ്മാ; ഈ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ നീ എന്നെ അത്യന്തം സന്തുഷ്ടനാക്കി.

Word by Word

• त्वत्समः: equal to you
• त्वत्समः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत् + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• क्षत्रियः: kshatriya/warrior
• क्षत्रियः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथिवीचरः: moving on the earth; earth-roaming
• पृथिवीचरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गम्यताम्: let (him/you) go; depart
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), Third, Singular, Passive (karmani)

• भीष्म: O Bhishma
• भीष्म: Sampradana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तोषितः: pleased/satisfied
• Type: Adjective (Past passive participle)
• Root: तुष् (धातु) → तोषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भृशम्: greatly; exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds the kṣatriya ideal of excellence in duty: valor and steadfast performance in battle are recognized as worthy of honor. It also shows how public praise functions as an ethical currency in warrior culture—affirming merit and reinforcing dharma-based conduct in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is addressed and praised as unmatched among earth-roaming kṣatriyas. The speaker declares himself greatly pleased by Bhīṣma’s conduct in the battle and grants him leave to depart—an acknowledgment of Bhīṣma’s decisive contribution and stature.