Shloka 2

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

श्रुतवानस्मि यत्कर्म कृतवानसि भार्गव।अनुरुंध्यामहे ब्रह्मन् पितुरानृण्यमास्थितम्।।।।

Transliteration

śrutavān asmi yat karma kṛtavān asi bhārgava | anuruṅdhyāmahe brahman pitur ānṛṇyam āsthitam ||

Translation

हे भार्गव! तुम्हारे किए हुए कर्मों का मैंने श्रवण किया है। हे ब्राह्मण! पिता के ऋण से उऋण होने का जो व्रत तुमने धारण किया है, हम उसका अनुमोदन करते हैं।

Word by Word

• śrutavān: have heard
• śrutavān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Perfect participle (क्तवत्); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; with asmi forms periphrastic perfect sense

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 1st person, Singular

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; relative pronoun qualifying karma

• karma: deed
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

• kṛtavān: having done
• kṛtavān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Perfect participle (क्तवत्); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; agrees with implied 'tvam'

• asi: are (auxiliary)
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular; with kṛtavān forms periphrastic perfect 'you have done'

• bhārgava: O Bhārgava
• bhārgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• anuruṃdhyāmahe: we approve/commend
• anuruṃdhyāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√rudh (रुध् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, 1st person, Plural; sense: 'we approve/commend/assent'

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• pituḥ: of (your) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• ānṛṇyam: freedom from debt; repayment
• ānṛṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānṛṇya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

• āsthitam: undertaken/attained
• āsthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (स्था धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त); Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; qualifies ānṛṇyam (state attained)

Context

I have been defeated by you, O Descendant of Kakustha! lord of the three worlds. Therefore, it is not right for me to feel ashamed.

Characters & Entities

• Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• Bhṛgu
• father (Jamadagni—implied by Jāmadagnya/Paraśurāma context)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds pitṛ-dharma: acknowledging one’s obligation to one’s father (pitṛ-ṛṇa) and acting to become ānṛṇa—free from that debt—through dutiful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After the Śiva-bow episode and Rāma’s marriage, Paraśurāma arrives and is addressed respectfully; his past acts are recognized as motivated by filial duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for dharmic duty and social decorum—praising rightful intention even in a formidable, potentially hostile figure.