Valmiki Ramayana 1.76.22 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 22

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

स हतान् दृश्य रामेण स्वांल्लोकांस्तपसार्जितान्।जामदग्न्यो जगामाशु महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa hatān dṛśya rāmeṇa svāṁl lokāṁs tapasārjitān | jāmadagnyo jagāma āśu mahendraṁ parvatottamam ||

Translation

Als Jamadagnya sah, dass seine eigenen Welten, die er durch Kasteiungen gewonnen hatte, von Rama vernichtet worden waren, begab er sich rasch zum Mahendra, dem vorzüglichsten der Berge.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हतान्: struck/slain
• हतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• रामेण: by Rāma
• रामेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वान्: his own
• स्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• लोकान्: worlds/realms
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्जितान्: earned/acquired
• अर्जितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arj (अर्ज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• जामदग्न्यः: Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• जामदग्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāmadagnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• महेन्द्रम्: to Mahendra
• महेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पर्वतोत्तमम्: best of mountains
• पर्वतोत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पर्वतानाम् उत्तमः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying महेन्द्रम्)

Context

You underrate me O Bhargava! as though I am devoid of valour and incompetent to perform the duties of a Kshatriya. Now witness my energy and valour.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• tapas (austerity)
• Mahendra mountain

FAQs

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

Spiritual merit is not a license for arrogance; dharma teaches that attainments can be diminished when misused in adharma or pride.

What is the narrative situation?

After the arrow’s release, Paraśurāma realizes his ascetic-earned realms are affected and he withdraws to Mahendra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Acceptance of consequence and retreat from further harm—choosing departure over continued confrontation.