Shloka 8
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
ततो रामो हृषितो राजसिंह दृष्टवा तदस्त्रं विनिवर्तितं वै । जितो<स्मि भीष्मेण सुमन्दबुद्धि- रित्येव वाक्यं सहसा व्यमुड्चत्
tato rāmo hṛṣito rājasiṃha dṛṣṭvā tad astraṃ vinivartitaṃ vai | jito 'smi bhīṣmeṇa sumandabuddhir ity eva vākyaṃ sahasā vyamuñcat ||
Então Rāma (Paraśurāma), jubiloso, ó leão entre os reis, ao ver aquela arma ser recolhida, deixou escapar de súbito estas palavras: “Eu — de entendimento obtuso — fui vencido por Bhīṣma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True martial honor includes truthful acknowledgment of outcome. Even a formidable figure like Paraśurāma accepts that Bhīṣma has prevailed when the astra is repelled, modeling humility and ethical clarity rather than pride or denial.
In the Bhīṣma–Paraśurāma confrontation, Bhīṣma successfully turns back a weapon. Seeing this, Paraśurāma becomes pleased and immediately declares that he has been defeated by Bhīṣma, using a self-deprecating phrase to emphasize candid acceptance.