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Shloka 12

भीष्म–रामयुद्धवर्णनम्

Bhīṣma’s Account of the Strategic Engagement with Rāma Jāmadagnya

प्राजापत्यं विश्वकृतं प्रस्वापं नाम भारत । न हीदं वेद रामो5पि पृथिव्यां वा पुमान्‌ क्वचित्‌

prājāpatyaṃ viśvakṛtaṃ prasvāpaṃ nāma bhārata | na hīdaṃ veda rāmo 'pi pṛthivyāṃ vā pumān kvacit ||

Dijo Bhishma: «Oh Bharata, esta es el arma llamada Prasvāpa, presidida por Prajāpati y concebida por Viśvakarman. Ni siquiera Rāma (Paraśurāma) la conoce; en verdad, ningún hombre en esta tierra posee conocimiento de ella.»

प्राजापत्यम्belonging to Prajapati
प्राजापत्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राजापत्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विश्वकृतम्made by Vishvakarman
विश्वकृतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविश्वकृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
प्रस्वापम्Prasvapa (name of a weapon/astram)
प्रस्वापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रस्वाप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नामby name / called
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम
भारतO Bharata
भारत:
TypeNoun
Rootभारत
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
हिindeed / for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वेदknows
वेद:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
रामःRama (Parashurama)
रामः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिeven / also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
पृथिव्याम्on the earth
पृथिव्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पुमान्a man
पुमान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुमांस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्वचित्anywhere / ever
क्वचित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्वचित्

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
Bharata (addressee, Kuru prince)
P
Prajāpati
V
Viśvakarman
R
Rāma (Paraśurāma)
P
Prasvāpa (astra/weapon)
P
Pṛthivī (earth)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the idea that certain powers (astric knowledge) are extraordinarily rare and lineage-bound, surpassing even famed masters like Paraśurāma; such knowledge implies responsibility and restraint in its use.

Bhīṣma identifies and authenticates a specific divine weapon—Prasvāpa—stating its divine affiliation (Prajāpati) and maker (Viśvakarman), and emphasizing its exclusivity by noting that even Paraśurāma and all other men on earth do not know it.