Shloka 3
भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue
ततो मामब्रवीद् राम: स्मयमानो रणाजिरे | रथो मे मेदिनी भीष्म वाहा वेदा: सदश्ववत्
tato mām abravīd rāmaḥ smayamāno raṇājire | ratho me medinī bhīṣma vāhā vedāḥ sad-aśvavat |
Lalu di medan laga, Rāma (Paraśurāma) berkata kepadaku sambil tersenyum tipis: “Wahai Bhīṣma, kebanggaan Kuru! Bagiku bumi sendiri adalah kereta; keempat Weda adalah kuda-kuda unggul yang menjadi tungganganku.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a model of action in conflict that claims legitimacy through dharma: Paraśurāma depicts his strength as rooted in sacred knowledge and cosmic order (earth and Vedas), implying that true power is disciplined, principled, and accountable to higher law rather than mere weaponry.
On the battlefield, Paraśurāma addresses Bhīṣma with a composed, even smiling demeanor and declares his symbolic ‘equipment’: the earth as his chariot and the Vedas as his steeds—signaling confidence and framing the impending fight as one backed by spiritual authority.