Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 16

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

लोकास्त्वप्रतिमा राम निर्जितास्तपसा मया ।जहि तान् शरमुख्येन मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।।।।

Transliteration

lokās tv apratimā rāma nirjitās tapasā mayā | jahi tān śaramukhyena mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ ||

Translation

അപ്രതിമനായ രാമാ! തപസ്സിലൂടെ ഞാൻ ജയിച്ച ലോകങ്ങൾക്കായി—ഈ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ അമ്പുകൊണ്ട് അവരെ വധിക്ക; കാലതാമസം വരരുതേ.

Word by Word

• लोकाः: worlds/realms
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• अप्रतिमाः: incomparable
• अप्रतिमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying लोकाः)

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निर्जिताः: conquered
• निर्जिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-ji (जि धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with लोकाः)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जहि: strike/kill
• जहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तान्: those (worlds)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शरमुख्येन: with the chief arrow
• शरमुख्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara-mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: मुख्यः शरः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मा: let not
• मा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (prohibitive particle, used with लोट्/विधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ्)

• भूत्: be/happen
• भूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पर्ययः: delay/turning back
• पर्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Strike with the, principal arrow the unrivalled worlds conquered by my asceticism. Do not delay, O Rama!

Characters & Entities

• Paraśurāma
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Letting go when truth is revealed: Paraśurāma urges swift completion, indicating that clinging to acquired power is contrary to dharma once rightful authority is recognized.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma asks Rāma to discharge the empowered arrow so that the ‘worlds’ or attainments gained by tapas are relinquished/redirected.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya (detachment) and satya-svīkāra (acceptance of truth) in conceding what one had gained.