Shloka 21
भीष्म–रामजामदग्न्ययुद्धप्रस्थानवर्णनम्
Bhishma’s Account of Parashurama’s Challenge and the March to Kurukshetra
तानापतत एवासौ रामो बाणानजिह्ागान् । बाणैरेवाच्छिनत् तूर्णमेकैकं त्रिभिराहवे,किंतु परशुरामजीने सीधे लक्ष्यकी ओर जानेवाले उन बाणोंके आते ही एक-एकको तीन-तीन बाणोंसे तुरंत काट दिया
tān āpatata evāsau rāmo bāṇān ajihagān | bāṇair evācchinat tūrṇam ekaikaṃ tribhir āhave ||
Bhīṣma said: As those serpent-like arrows of Rāma (Paraśurāma) came rushing straight at him, he swiftly severed each one in the midst of battle—cutting every single arrow with three of his own. The scene underscores disciplined mastery of arms and the relentless escalation of a vow-bound duel, where prowess is measured not by rage but by controlled, exact response.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent conflict, the epic ideal emphasizes mastery and restraint: true strength appears as precision, composure, and adherence to warrior discipline rather than uncontrolled fury.
In the Bhīṣma–Paraśurāma duel, Paraśurāma’s incoming, deadly arrows are intercepted mid-flight; he cuts each arrow down immediately, using three arrows to neutralize every single one.