Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 22

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

स हतान् दृश्य रामेण स्वांल्लोकांस्तपसार्जितान्।जामदग्न्यो जगामाशु महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa hatān dṛśya rāmeṇa svāṁl lokāṁs tapasārjitān | jāmadagnyo jagāma āśu mahendraṁ parvatottamam ||

Translation

Seeing that his own worlds—won through austerities—had been struck down by Rama, Jamadagnya swiftly departed for Mahendra, the foremost of mountains.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हतान्: struck/slain
• हतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• रामेण: by Rāma
• रामेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वान्: his own
• स्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• लोकान्: worlds/realms
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्जितान्: earned/acquired
• अर्जितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arj (अर्ज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकान्)

• जामदग्न्यः: Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• जामदग्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāmadagnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• महेन्द्रम्: to Mahendra
• महेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पर्वतोत्तमम्: best of mountains
• पर्वतोत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पर्वतानाम् उत्तमः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying महेन्द्रम्)

Context

You underrate me O Bhargava! as though I am devoid of valour and incompetent to perform the duties of a Kshatriya. Now witness my energy and valour.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• tapas (austerity)
• Mahendra mountain

FAQs

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

Spiritual merit is not a license for arrogance; dharma teaches that attainments can be diminished when misused in adharma or pride.

What is the narrative situation?

After the arrow’s release, Paraśurāma realizes his ascetic-earned realms are affected and he withdraws to Mahendra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Acceptance of consequence and retreat from further harm—choosing departure over continued confrontation.