Shloka 27
Bhīṣma’s Dream-Counsel and the Prasvāpa Astra (भीष्मस्वप्नदर्शनम् / प्रस्वापास्त्रोपदेशः)
त्यजेयं शाश्व॒तं धर्ममिति मे निश्चिता मतिः । तब मैंने क्षत्रियधर्मको लक्ष्य करके उनसे कहा--“महर्षियो! संसारमें मेरा यह व्रत प्रसिद्ध है कि मैं पीठपर बाणोंकी चोट खाता हुआ कदापि युद्धसे निवृत्त नहीं हो सकता। मेरा यह निश्चित विचार है कि मैं लोभसे
tyajeyaṃ śāśvataṃ dharmam iti me niścitā matiḥ |
毗湿摩说道：“我的决意已定：我绝不舍弃永恒之法。以刹帝利之职责为念，我对诸位仙圣宣言：‘此誓在世间久已闻名——纵使背上承受箭矢之击，我亦不能退出战阵。我的信念已然确定：我不能背弃亘古的刹帝利法——不为贪欲，不为怯懦或卑屈，不为恐惧，亦不为任何私利。’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma presents unwavering commitment to dharma as a moral anchor: one must not abandon one’s rightful duty due to greed, fear, cowardice, dejection, or self-interest. For a kṣatriya, this includes steadfastness and refusal to retreat from a justly undertaken battle.
Bhīṣma addresses sages and reaffirms his famous vow: even if struck by arrows, he will not withdraw from war. He frames this as fidelity to the eternal kṣatriya-dharma, rejecting any motive that would compromise his duty.