Shloka 1.75.17
जामदग्न्य-रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow
तदा तु जृम्भितं शैवं धनुर्भीमपराक्रमम्।हुङ्कारेण महादेव स्तम्भितोऽथ त्रिलोचन:।।।।
tadā tu jṛmbhitaṃ śaivaṃ dhanur bhīma-parākramam |
huṅkāreṇa mahādevaḥ stambhito 'tha trilocanaḥ ||
Then Śiva’s bow—terrible in its power—was made to strain; and by Viṣṇu’s resounding “huṃ”-utterance, the three-eyed Mahādeva was checked and held still.
Then, with the 'Humkara' produced by Visnu, Siva's bow of dreadful prowess was stretched, which struck the three-eyed Mahadeva motionless.
Dharma here points to the restoration of cosmic balance: overwhelming force is restrained, and divine power is shown as governed by order rather than unchecked rage.
The verse recalls the ancient contest involving Śiva’s bow and the divine powers of Viṣṇu and Śiva, explaining the bow’s fearsome nature and why it becomes subdued.
Self-restraint (niyama/saṃyama): even the mightiest powers are depicted as capable of being checked for the sake of peace and order.