Valmiki Ramayana 1.75.13: Bala Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 13
जामदग्न्य
रामसंवादः · Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow
Spoken by Parasurama to RamaSetting: Mithilā (Janaka’s sabhā)
इदं द्वितीयं दुर्धर्षं विष्णोर्दत्तं सुरोत्तमैः ।
तदिदं वैष्णवं राम धनुः परमभास्वरम् ।
समानसारं काकुत्स्थ रौद्रेण धनुषा त्विदम् ॥१३॥
idaṃ dvitīyaṃ durdharṣaṃ viṣṇor dattaṃ surottamaiḥ |
tad idaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ rāma dhanuḥ paramabhāsvaram |
samānasāraṃ kākutstha raudreṇa dhanuṣā tv idam ||13||
यह दूसरा धनुष भी बहुत बड़ा है। विष्णु को दिया था देवी ने। यह भी उतना ही टगड़ा है जितना शिव का धनुष था।
Sandhi Notes
- viṣṇordattam = viṣṇoḥ + dattam (visarga sandhi: oḥ + d → or d)
- tvidam = tu + idam (u + i → vi/’v’ glide in some recensions; here separated as tu idam)
This second bow which is unassailable was given by chief of the celestials to Visnu. O Rama! born in the race of Kakutstha! this highly radiant bow of Visnu is as strong as the bow of Siva.
The teaching
True strength is measured by mastery without arrogance; divine power is to be handled with restraint and purpose.
Duties in tension
- Accepting a challenge to uphold kṣatriya honor vs avoiding escalation with a formidable ascetic-warrior
- Respect for divine weapons and elders vs necessity to establish rightful strength for protection of dharma
- Ethical theme
- Kṣatriya-dharma / power-and-restraint
- How it resolves
- Trial-by-competence—legitimacy established through controlled demonstration
Devotion and practice
Meditation on unity of divine functions (Hari-Hara-sāmarasya) and on inner ‘radiance’ (bhāsvara) as clarity in action.
- Deity praised
- Viṣṇu (and implicit Hari-Hara parity)
- Form of praise
- Stuti (implicit)
- Mantra
- वैष्णवं
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Martial, radiant, testing
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Divine weapons
- Comparative power
- Vaishnava-Raudra polarity
- Ethics of force
Names and forms differ (Rudra/Viṣṇu), but power is one—suggesting non-dual substratum; the ‘equal essence’ (sama-sāra) hints unity behind divine functions.
Ekam sat—many names motif (Vedic intuition of one reality expressed diversely); also the ‘light’ (bhāsvara) imagery echoing jyotiḥ themes in Upaniṣads.
- Devas and Vishnu
- Bestowal of Vaiṣṇava bow (reverential-supportive)
- Parasurama and Rama
- Weapon-offer as test; asserting parity with Rudra’s bow (provocative)
- Vishnu and Shiva
- Equivalence/parallel of divine powers via bows (harmonizing-competitive (theological parity))
- Rama and Vishnu
- Avatāra resonance—Vaiṣṇava weapon addressed to Rāma (destiny-laden)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.75.14-1.75.17 (stringing/drawing the Vaiṣṇava bow); Rāmacaritamānasa Bālakāṇḍa (Hari-Hara bow comparison in Paraśurāma episode)
Hari-Hara unity themes in Purāṇas (Skanda/Padma etc.); Mahābhārata discussions of Nārāyaṇa and Rudra equivalence in various stutis
1.75.12 (Rudra bow identified)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Dīpta (bright) with uplift on ‘परमभास्वरम्’ and firm cadence on ‘समानसारम्’
FAQs
Dharma warns that power must be contextualised: even supreme strength is to be measured, compared, and ultimately governed by rightful intent rather than pride.
Paraśurāma reveals a second, Viṣṇu-associated bow and asserts its parity with Śiva’s bow, setting up a direct test involving Rāma.
Paraśurāma’s authoritative knowledge of divine lore, used to frame a challenge as a matter of cosmic legitimacy.
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