Shloka 1
भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue
भीकम (2 अमान एकोनाशीरत्याधिेकशततमो<् ध्याय: संकल्पनिर्मित रथपर आरूढ़ परशुरामजीके साथ भीष्मका युद्ध प्रारम्भ करना भीष्म उवाच तमहं स्मयन्निव रणे प्रत्यभाषं व्यवस्थितम् । भूमिष्ठं नोत्सहे योद्धुं भवन्तं रथमास्थित:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तब मैं युद्धके लिये खड़े हुए परशुरामजीसे मुसकराता हुआ-सा बोला--'ब्रह्मन! मैं रथपर बैठा हूँ और आप भूमिपर खड़े हैं। ऐसी दशामें मैं आपके साथ युद्ध नहीं कर सकता
bhīṣma uvāca | tam ahaṁ smayann iva raṇe pratyabhāṣaṁ vyavasthitam | bhūmiṣṭhaṁ notsahe yoddhuṁ bhavantaṁ ratham āsthitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “O King, then—seeing Paraśurāma standing ready in the battlefield—I addressed him with a faint, almost smiling composure: ‘O Brāhmaṇa, I am mounted on a chariot while you stand on the ground. In such a situation, I do not deem it proper to fight you.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma governs conduct: Bhīṣma signals that combat should be fair and ethically situated, and that one should not exploit an unequal position (chariot-mounted versus standing on the ground), especially when addressing a revered Brāhmaṇa like Paraśurāma.
Bhīṣma recounts the opening of his confrontation with Paraśurāma. Seeing Paraśurāma ready for battle on foot, Bhīṣma—already on a chariot—speaks to him and expresses reluctance to fight under unequal conditions.