Shloka 2

Bhīṣma’s Retrospective of the Jāmadagnya Rāma Encounter

Divyāstra-Pratiyuddha and Twilight Cessation

Devanagari script

ततोअश्रान्ते रथे तिष्ठन्‌ राम: प्रहरतां वर: । ववर्ष शरजालानि मयि मेघ इवाचले

Transliteration

tato 'śrānte rathe tiṣṭhan rāmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ | vavarṣa śarajālāni mayi megha ivācale ||

Translation

তারপর যোদ্ধাদের শ্রেষ্ঠ রাম (পরশুরাম) অশ্রান্ত রথে দাঁড়িয়ে আমার উপর তীরের জাল বর্ষণ করতে লাগলেন—যেমন পর্বতের উপর মেঘ বৃষ্টি ঝরায়।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya

• अश्रान्ते: on the untiring (one)
• अश्रान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रथे: on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• प्रहरताम्: of those who strike/attack
• प्रहरताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ
• Form: Present active participle (genitive plural used as comparative base), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ववर्ष: rained down, showered
• ववर्ष: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: Perfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• शरजालानि: nets/masses of arrows
• शरजालानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरजाल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• मयि: upon me
• मयि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Pronoun, Locative, Singular

• मेघः: a cloud
• मेघः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• इव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव
• Form: Avyaya

• अचले: on a mountain
• अचले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Rama (Parashurama)
• chariot
• arrows
• cloud
• mountain

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast martial discipline: a great warrior maintains composure and sustained effort, expressing kṣatriya-dharma through direct, skillful engagement rather than hesitation or disorder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes Paraśurāma standing firm on his chariot and unleashing continuous volleys of arrows at him, compared to a raincloud pouring upon a mountain—signaling the intensity of their duel.