Shloka 18
तस्मिंस्तमसि घोरे तु भस्मच्छन्नेव सा चमू:।।1.74.17।।ददर्श भीमसङ्काशं जटामण्डलधारिणम्। भार्गवं जामदग्न्यं तं राजराजविमर्दिनम्।।1.74.18।।कैलासमिव दुर्धर्षं कालाग्निमिव दुस्सहम्। ज्वलंतमिव तेजोभिर्दुर्निरीक्ष्यं पृथग्जनै:।।1.74.19।।स्कन्धे चासज्य परशुं धनुर्विद्युद्गणोपमम् । प्रगृह्य शरमुख्यं च त्रिपुरघ्नं यथा शिवम्।।1.74.20।।
tasmiṁs tamasi ghore tu bhasmacchannā iva sā camūḥ ||1.74.17||
dadarśa bhīmasaṅkāśaṁ jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam |
bhārgavaṁ jāmadagnyaṁ taṁ rājarājavimardinam ||1.74.18||
kailāsam iva durdharṣaṁ kālāgnim iva dussaham |
jvalantam iva tejobhir durnirīkṣyaṁ pṛthagjanaiḥ ||1.74.19||
skandhe cāsajya paraśuṁ dhanur vidyudgaṇopamam |
pragṛhya śaramukhyaṁ ca tripuraghnaṁ yathā śivam ||1.74.20||
সেই ভয়ংকর অন্ধকারে সেনাদল যেন ভস্মে আচ্ছন্ন হয়ে গেল। তখন দশরথ দেখলেন—ভয়ংকরাকৃতি, জটা-মণ্ডলধারী, জমদগ্নিপুত্র ভার্গব পরশুরামকে, যিনি রাজাদের দমনকারী হিসেবে প্রসিদ্ধ। তিনি কৈলাসের ন্যায় অদম্য, প্রলয়াগ্নির ন্যায় অসহ্য, তেজে জ্বলন্তের মতো—সাধারণ লোকের পক্ষে দৃষ্টিপাত করাও কঠিন। কাঁধে পরশু ঝুলিয়ে, বিদ্যুৎসমূহের মতো দীপ্ত ধনু ধারণ করে এবং শ্রেষ্ঠ বাণ হাতে নিয়ে, তিনি ত্রিপুরবিধ্বংসী শিবের ন্যায় প্রতিভাত হলেন।
In that dreadful darkness while the army looked as if covered with ashes, king Dasaratha encountered the repressor of kings, descendant of Bhrugu and son of Jamadagni with a terrible crown of matted hair, inaccessible like Kailasa mountain and unendurable like the fire at the time of dissolution. The laymen gazing at his blazing energy,hanging an axe on his shoulder and holding a bow in his hand which flashed like lighning and the principal arrow he looked like Siva at the time of slaying of Tripura.
FAQs
The verse frames righteous authority as something that must be approached with humility and restraint: immense power (tejas) is real and morally weighty, and ordinary people should not treat it casually. Dharma here is reverent recognition of spiritual and martial potency, which demands self-control rather than provocation.
While returning from Mithilā after Rāma’s marriage, Daśaratha’s party encounters Paraśurāma. The text heightens suspense by describing him as terrifying, radiant, and weapon-bearing—setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation/testing.
Paraśurāma’s formidable tapas and uncompromising martial presence are emphasized; implicitly, Daśaratha’s role is to respond with royal composure and due respect toward a powerful Brahmarṣi-warrior figure.