Shloka 26
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
विमुखो विनिवर्तेयं पृष्ठतो5भ्याहत: शरै: । नाहं लोभाजन्न कार्पण्यान्न भयान्ञार्थकारणात्
vimukho vinivarteyaṁ pṛṣṭhato 'bhyāhataḥ śaraiḥ | nāhaṁ lobhāj na kārpaṇyān na bhayān nārthakāraṇāt ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Jika aku berpaling, nescaya aku akan dihujani anak panah dari belakang. Aku tidak berundur kerana tamak, bukan kerana kelemahan yang hina dan kikir, bukan kerana takut, dan bukan pula demi sebarang keuntungan diri.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames steadfastness as an ethical stance: one should not abandon one’s duty due to greed, fear, weakness of heart, or personal gain. The verse highlights integrity under pressure and the refusal to let base motives govern action.
Speaking as Bhīṣma, the verse presents his resolve in a martial context: turning away would invite arrows from behind, yet he clarifies that his persistence is not driven by selfish motives. It characterizes his self-understanding as acting from duty and honor rather than from desire or fear.