Shloka 4
भीष्म–रामयुद्धवर्णनम्
Bhīṣma’s Account of the Strategic Engagement with Rāma Jāmadagnya
न च रामं॑ महावीर्य शक्नोमि रणमूर्धथनि । विजेतुं समरे विप्रं जामदग्न्यं महाबलम्,परंतु मैं महाबली, महापराक्रमी विप्रवर परशुरामजीको समरभूमिमें युद्धके मुहानेपर किसी तरह जीत नहीं सकता
na ca rāmaṃ mahāvīrya śaknomi raṇamūrdhani | vijetuṃ samare vipraṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahābalam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai yang berdaya-perkasa! Di garis terdepan pertempuran pun aku tidak sanggup menundukkan Rāma—Jāmadagnya Paraśurāma—brahmana pejuang yang sangat kuat itu, bahkan dalam duel terbuka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest warriors acknowledge limits and speak truthfully about strength and circumstance; Bhīṣma’s admission models humility and ethical clarity in assessing conflict, especially when facing a divinely empowered brahmin-warrior like Paraśurāma.
In the Udyoga Parva context of impending war and past rivalries, Bhīṣma states that he cannot defeat Paraśurāma (Rāma Jāmadagnya) at the battle’s forefront, underscoring Paraśurāma’s extraordinary martial power and Bhīṣma’s sober appraisal of that confrontation.