Shloka 25

Devanagari script

रुरोद सा शोकवती बाष्पव्याकुललोचना । प्रपेदे शरणं चैव शरण्यं भूगुनन्दनम्‌,उसके नेत्रोंमें आँसू भर आये। वह शोकसे आतुर होकर रोने लगी और सबको शरण देनेवाले भूगुनन्दन परशुरामजीकी शरणमें गयी

Transliteration

rurod sā śokavatī bāṣpa-vyākula-locanā | prapede śaraṇaṃ caiva śaraṇyaṃ bhṛgu-nandanam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Overcome with grief, she wept; her eyes were clouded and shaken with tears. Seeking refuge, she approached Bhṛgu’s illustrious descendant—Paraśurāma—who is famed as a protector of those who surrender. The verse underscores the ethical impulse, in the face of suffering, to seek lawful protection and guidance from a recognized guardian rather than to act from despair or vengeance.

Word by Word

रुरोदcried, wept

साshe

शोकवतीgrief-stricken, full of sorrow

बाष्पव्याकुललोचनाwhose eyes were agitated/blurred with tears

प्रपेदेtook refuge, resorted to

शरणम्refuge

चand

एवindeed, just

शरण्यम्the refuge-giver, worthy of refuge

भृगुनन्दनम्the delight/descendant of Bhṛgu (Paraśurāma)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Paraśurāma (Bhṛgunandana)

Bhṛgu

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When overwhelmed by sorrow, one should seek śaraṇa (refuge) with a śaraṇya—an ethically recognized protector or authority—rather than be driven by uncontrolled emotion. The verse highlights the dharmic value of turning to rightful guardianship and counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

A grief-stricken woman breaks down in tears and goes to Paraśurāma (Bhṛgu’s descendant), renowned as a refuge for those in distress, seeking his protection and intervention.