Valmiki Ramayana 1.75.23 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 23

जामदग्न्य

रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Devanagari script

न्यस्तशस्त्रे पितरि मे तपोबलसमन्विते।अर्जुनो विदधे मृत्युं प्राकृतां बुद्धिमास्थित:।।।।

Transliteration

nyastaśastre pitari me tapobalasamanvite |

arjuno vidadhe mṛtyuṃ prākṛtāṃ buddhim āsthitaḥ ||

Translation

Als mein Vater—mit der Kraft der Askese begabt—seine Waffen niedergelegt hatte, bewirkte Arjuna, einem niedrigen Sinn folgend, seinen Tod.

Word by Word

• nyastaśastre: (when) having laid down weapons
• nyastaśastre: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyasta + śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) compound meaning 'one whose weapons are laid down'; Masculine, Locative (7), Singular; qualifying pitari

• pitari: when (my) father (was)
• pitari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7), Singular

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• tapobalasamanvite: endowed with ascetic power
• tapobalasamanvite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas + bala + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Locative (7), Singular; qualifying pitari

• arjunaḥ: Arjuna (Kārtavīrya)
• arjunaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• vidadhe: inflicted/caused
• vidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• mṛtyum: death
• mṛtyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• prākṛtām: base, vulgar
• prākṛtām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2), Singular; adjective qualifying buddhim

• buddhim: mind/intention
• buddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2), Singular

• āsthitaḥ: having resorted to
• āsthitaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (स्था धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; agrees with arjunaḥ

Context

My father equipped with ascetic energy renounced the weapon and was killed by Kartaveeryarjuna in a vulgar manner.

Characters & Entities

• Jamadagni
• Kartavīryārjuna (Arjuna)
• Paraśurāma

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns exploiting another’s renunciation or vulnerability; killing one who has laid down arms is portrayed as ignoble and unrighteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma recounts the wrongful killing of his father Jamadagni by Kartavīryārjuna, which motivates his later actions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ascetic integrity (tapas) in Jamadagni, contrasted with ignoble intent (prākṛtā buddhi) in the killer.