Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 6

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणोऽसीति पूज्यो मे विश्वामित्रकृतेन च।तस्माच्छक्तो न ते राम मोक्तुं प्राणहरं शरम्।।।।

Transliteration

brāhmaṇo ’sīti pūjyo me viśvāmitra-kṛtena ca |

tasmāc chakto na te rāma moktuṃ prāṇa-haraṃ śaram ||

Translation

“ព្រោះអ្នកជាព្រាហ្មណ៍ ហើយដោយសារការពាក់ព័ន្ធជាមួយវិશ્વាមិត្រ អ្នកសមគួរឲ្យខ្ញុំគោរពបូជា។ ដូច្នេះ ឱ រាម (បរាសុរាម) ខ្ញុំមិនអាចបាញ់ព្រួញសម្លាប់ជីវិតនេះទៅលើអ្នកបានទេ។”

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• iti: (because) thus
• iti: Hetu-nirdeśa (हेतु-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Reason/quotation marker (इति)

• pūjyaḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (प्रातिपदिक; √pūj)
• Form: Future passive participle/gerundive (तव्यत्/यत् sense), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

• me: by me / to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular; 'for me/by me' in sense of संबंध

• viśvāmitra-kṛtena: because of (what was) done for Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitra-kṛtena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; tatpuruṣa: viśvāmitreṇa kṛtam = 'done by Viśvāmitra' (i.e., for Viśvāmitra's sake/at his behest)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (अव्यय/तद्-प्रयोग)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्) expressing reason

• śaktaḥ: able
• śaktaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; √śak)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with negation na

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular (addressing Paraśurāma)

• moktum: to release
• moktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• prāṇa-haram: life-taking
• prāṇa-haram: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: prāṇān harati iti = 'life-taking'

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Context

"You are a brahmin, O Parasurama. You are also related to Viswamitra. Hence you are worthy of homage. I cannot, therefore, release this against you to take your life.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Dāśarathi)
• Paraśurāma (Bhārgava Rāma)
• Viśvāmitra
• śara (arrow)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is self-restraint: even when possessing the power to kill, Rāma refuses to use deadly force against one who is a brāhmaṇa and worthy of honor, showing that righteousness governs strength.

What is the narrative situation?

After Paraśurāma confronts Rāma, Rāma has taken up a divine weapon; yet he declares he will not release a life-taking arrow against Paraśurāma due to dharmic considerations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (ethical boundaries) and kṣamā/saṃyama (forbearance and restraint) in the exercise of power.