Shloka 4

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा राघव: क्रुद्धो भार्गवस्य शरासनम्।शरं च प्रतिजग्राह हस्ताल्लघुपराक्रम:।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā rāghavaḥ kruddho bhārgavasya śarāsanam | śaraṁ ca pratijagrāha hastāl laghuparākramaḥ ||

Translation

এই কথা বলে রাঘব ক্রুদ্ধ হলেন; ক্ষিপ্রপরাক্রমী শ্রীराम ভাৰ্গবের হাত থেকে ধনু ও বাণ—উভয়ই কেড়ে নিলেন।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotation particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'having spoken'

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kruddhaḥ: enraged
• kruddhaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (प्रातिपदिक; √krudh)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with rāghavaḥ

• bhārgavasya: of Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• bhārgavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• śara-āsanam: bow
• śara-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: śarāṇām āsanam = 'seat/support of arrows' i.e., bow

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• pratijagrāha: seized, took up
• pratijagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati√grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• hastāt: from (his) hand
• hastāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• laghu-parākramaḥ: swiftly valorous
• laghu-parākramaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'quick in valor'

Context

You are faithful to vows O Rama! This arrow has no equal in prowess. It behoves of you to release it against me. After its release I shall go to the excellent Mahendra mountain".

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• bow (śarāsana)
• arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

Legitimate force is employed to restrain arrogance and prevent harm; dharma sometimes requires decisive action to stop escalation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma physically takes Paraśurāma’s bow and arrow, signaling dominance and ending the immediate threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Promptness and competence—acting swiftly to neutralize danger while maintaining a larger moral purpose.