Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

रामस्तपस्वी ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणश्न गुरुश्न ते । तस्यावमानं कौरव्य मा सम कार्षी: कथंचन

Transliteration

rāmas tapassvī brahmaṇyo brāhmaṇaś ca guruś ca te | tasyāvamānaṃ kauravya mā sma kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana ||

Translation

రాముడు (పరశురాముడు) తపస్వి, బ్రాహ్మణభక్తుడు, బ్రహ్మనిష్ఠుడు; ఆయన బ్రాహ్మణుడు, నీ గురువూ. ఓ కౌరవా! ఏ విధంగానూ ఆయనను అవమానించకు.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama (Parashurama)
• रामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपस्वी: ascetic, practicing austerities
• तपस्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्मण्यः: devoted to Brahman / devoted to Brahmins
• ब्रह्मण्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुः: teacher, preceptor
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ते: of you / your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अवमानम्: disrespect, insult
• अवमानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवमान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कौरव्य: O Kaurava (descendant of Kuru)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मा: do not (prohibitive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• सम्: completely, altogether (preverb used with verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• कार्षीः: you should do / you do (here: do not do)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Aorist (injunctive/prohibitive use with मा), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कथंचन: in any way, at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Rāma (Paraśurāma)
• Kauravya (Kuru prince; addressed person)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches restraint and humility: one must not dishonor a revered teacher—especially an ascetic and guardian of sacred tradition—because respect for the guru and for dharmic authority is itself a moral duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma warns a Kuru prince not to offend Rāma (Paraśurāma), emphasizing his spiritual power and his status as the prince’s guru, thereby urging careful, respectful conduct in a tense situation.