Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 8

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

न ह्ययं वैष्णवो दिव्य श्शर: परपुरञ्जय:।मोघ: पतति वीर्येण बलदर्पविनाशनः।।।।

Transliteration

na hy ayaṃ vaiṣṇavo divyaḥ śaraḥ para-puraṃ-jayaḥ |

moghaḥ patati vīryeṇa bala-darpa-vināśanaḥ ||

Translation

فإن هذا السهم الفيشْنَويّ السماويّ—قاهر حصون الأعداء، ومُحطِّم القوة والكبر بسطوته—لا يسقط عبثًا قط.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• vaiṣṇavaḥ: of Viṣṇu
• vaiṣṇavaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with śaraḥ

• divyaḥ: divine
• divyaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with śaraḥ

• śaraḥ: arrow
• śaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• para-puraṃ-jayaḥ: conqueror of enemy cities
• para-puraṃ-jayaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक) + jaya (प्रातिपदिक; √ji)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; upapada-tatpuruṣa: parapurāṇi jayati iti

• moghaḥ: vain, futile
• moghaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

• patati: falls, is discharged
• patati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• vīryeṇa: by valor
• vīryeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• bala-darpa-vināśanaḥ: destroyer of strength and pride
• bala-darpa-vināśanaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक; √naś)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: balasya darpasya vināśanaḥ = 'destroyer of strength-pride'

Context

On conquering the hostile cities and destroying the pride and strength of the enemyby its prowess, this celestial arrow of Visnu shall not go in vain".

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Dāśarathi)
• Paraśurāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is the inevitability of moral consequence: divine power symbolizes truth that cannot be made ‘empty’; arrogance and misuse of strength must be corrected.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains why the divine Vaiṣṇava missile cannot be rendered ineffective and must achieve a purposeful outcome.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness to truth and principle) in action—Rāma acts consistently with the nature of the divine weapon and with righteousness.