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Shloka 10

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

पितर ऊचु. मा स्मैवं साहसं तात पुनः कार्षी: कथंचन । भीष्मेण संयुगं गन्तुं क्षत्रियेण विशेषत:

pitar ūcuḥ—mā smaivaṃ sāhasaṃ tāta punaḥ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana | bhīṣmeṇa saṃyugaṃ gantuṃ kṣatriyeṇa viśeṣataḥ ||

Các bậc tổ tiên nói: “Con yêu, chớ bao giờ lại liều lĩnh như thế, dẫu bằng cách nào. Bước vào chiến địa đối đầu với Bhīṣma—nhất là với một kṣatriya tầm vóc như người ấy—không hợp với con.”

पितरःthe forefathers
पितरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ऊचुःsaid
ऊचुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
माdo not
मा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमा
स्मindeed (prohibitive particle with मा)
स्म:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्म
एवम्thus, in this way
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
साहसम्rash act, audacity
साहसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसाहस
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तातdear son
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
कार्षीःyou should do / do (in prohibition: do not do)
कार्षीः:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormAorist (injunctive/prohibitive with मा), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कथंचनin any way, at all
कथंचन:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथंचन
भीष्मेणwith Bhishma
भीष्मेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
संयुगम्battle, combat
संयुगम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंयुग
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गन्तुम्to go
गन्तुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormTumun (infinitive)
क्षत्रियेणwith a kshatriya (warrior)
क्षत्रियेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
विशेषतःespecially
विशेषतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविशेषतः

भीष्म उवाच

पितरः (the forefathers)
भीष्म (Bhīṣma)
क्षत्रिय (kṣatriya, warrior class)

Educational Q&A

Ancestral authority warns against reckless heroics: ethical action in war requires discernment of one’s capacity and the opponent’s stature; bravado that ignores prudence is condemned.

The forefathers address a younger figure and forbid him from repeating a previous act of rashness—specifically, from entering combat against Bhīṣma, emphasizing the exceptional danger and impropriety of challenging such a formidable kṣatriya.