Shloka 186
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
कथं शक््यस्त्वया जेतुं निवर्तस्वेह भार्गव । भृगुनन्दन! गंगा और शान्तनुके ये महायशस्वी पुत्र भीष्म साक्षात् वसु ही हैं। इन्हें तुम कैसे जीत सकते हो? अतः यहाँ युद्धसे निवृत्त हो जाओ
kathaṁ śakyas tvayā jetuṁ nivartasveha bhārgava | bhṛgunandana gaṅgā-śāntanavau mahāyaśasau putrau bhīṣmaḥ sākṣād vasur hi saḥ | enaṁ tvaṁ kathaṁ jetum arhasi | ataḥ iha yuddhān nivartasva ||
कथं शक्यस्त्वया जेतुं निवर्तस्वेह भार्गव । भृगुनन्दन! गङ्गाशान्तनवोर्महायशाः पुत्रो भीष्मः साक्षाद्वसुरेव । तं कथं जेष्यसि? तस्मादिह युद्धान्निवर्तस्व ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes prudent restraint and recognition of rightful strength: when a conflict is unwinnable or violates proper judgment, one should withdraw rather than persist out of pride. It also frames Bhishma’s stature as divinely grounded (a Vasu), underscoring that ethical counsel includes acknowledging cosmic order and limits.
In Udyoga Parva’s account of the Bhishma–Parashurama confrontation, Bhishma addresses Parashurama (Bhargava), urging him to stop fighting. He argues that Bhishma, born of Ganga and Shantanu, is essentially a Vasu incarnate and therefore not someone Parashurama can conquer; hence Parashurama should desist from battle.