Shloka 1.75.20

जामदग्न्य-रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Devanagari script

धनू रुद्रस्तु सङ्कृद्धो विदेहेषु महायशा:।देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्ददौ हस्ते ससायकम्।।।।

Transliteration

dhanū rudras tu saṅkruddho videheṣu mahāyaśāḥ |

deverātasya rājarṣer dadau haste sa-sāyakam ||

Translation

But Rudra—renowned and enraged—placed that bow, together with its arrow, into the hands of the royal sage Devarāta in the land of Videha.

Context

Glorious Siva, enraged at this, placed the bow together with the arrow in the hands of Rajarshi Devarata in the country of Videha.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra/Śiva
• Videha
• Devarāta (Janaka, by epithet in many traditions)
• Bow
• Arrow

FAQs

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

Dharma frames power as entrusted responsibility: divine weapons are handed to worthy custodians, not held for personal rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma explains how Śiva’s bow came to be in Videha and into Devarāta’s keeping, grounding the current episode in sacred history.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Stewardship: the royal sage is portrayed as a fit guardian of a dangerous, sacred object.