Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

मम चैव समक्ष तां कन्यामाहूय भार्गव: । उक्तवान्‌ दीनया वाचा मध्ये तेषां महात्मनाम्‌,फिर मेरे सामने ही उन्होंने उस कन्‍्याको बुलाकर उन सब महात्माओंके बीच दीनतापूर्ण वाणीमें उससे कहा

Transliteration

mama caiva samakṣaṁ tāṁ kanyām āhūya bhārgavaḥ | uktavān dīnayā vācā madhye teṣāṁ mahātmanām ||

Translation

ต่อหน้าข้าพเจ้าเอง ภารควะได้เรียกหญิงสาวนั้นมา แล้วท่ามกลางมหาบุรุษเหล่านั้นก็กล่าวกับนางด้วยถ้อยคำอ่อนน้อมถ่อมตน

Word by Word

ममof me / my

चand

एवindeed / just

समक्षम्in the presence (of)

ताम्that (her)

कन्याम्the maiden / girl

आहूयhaving called (summoned)

भार्गवःBhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)

उक्तवान्said / spoke

दीनयाwith a humble / pitiable

वाचाwith speech / in words

मध्येin the midst of

तेषाम्of those

महात्मनाम्of the great-souled (sages)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)

the maiden (kanyā)

the great-souled men (mahātmānaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical restraint and humility in speech, especially when addressing someone in a public assembly; even powerful figures are shown choosing a subdued, respectful tone when dharma and reputation are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that Paraśurāma (Bhārgava) called the maiden into the assembly and spoke to her humbly before the gathered noble elders, setting up a formal, witnessed exchange.