Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 2

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

श्रुतवानस्मि यत्कर्म कृतवानसि भार्गव।अनुरुंध्यामहे ब्रह्मन् पितुरानृण्यमास्थितम्।।।।

Transliteration

śrutavān asmi yat karma kṛtavān asi bhārgava | anuruṅdhyāmahe brahman pitur ānṛṇyam āsthitam ||

Translation

हे भार्गवा! तू केलेल्या कर्मांचे मी श्रवण केले आहे. हे ब्राह्मणा! पितृऋणातून उऋण होण्याचे जे कर्तव्य तू स्वीकारले आहेस, आम्ही त्याचे अनुमोदन करतो.

Word by Word

• śrutavān: have heard
• śrutavān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Perfect participle (क्तवत्); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; with asmi forms periphrastic perfect sense

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 1st person, Singular

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; relative pronoun qualifying karma

• karma: deed
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

• kṛtavān: having done
• kṛtavān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Perfect participle (क्तवत्); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; agrees with implied 'tvam'

• asi: are (auxiliary)
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular; with kṛtavān forms periphrastic perfect 'you have done'

• bhārgava: O Bhārgava
• bhārgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• anuruṃdhyāmahe: we approve/commend
• anuruṃdhyāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√rudh (रुध् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, 1st person, Plural; sense: 'we approve/commend/assent'

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• pituḥ: of (your) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• ānṛṇyam: freedom from debt; repayment
• ānṛṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānṛṇya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

• āsthitam: undertaken/attained
• āsthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (स्था धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त); Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; qualifies ānṛṇyam (state attained)

Context

I have been defeated by you, O Descendant of Kakustha! lord of the three worlds. Therefore, it is not right for me to feel ashamed.

Characters & Entities

• Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• Bhṛgu
• father (Jamadagni—implied by Jāmadagnya/Paraśurāma context)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds pitṛ-dharma: acknowledging one’s obligation to one’s father (pitṛ-ṛṇa) and acting to become ānṛṇa—free from that debt—through dutiful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After the Śiva-bow episode and Rāma’s marriage, Paraśurāma arrives and is addressed respectfully; his past acts are recognized as motivated by filial duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for dharmic duty and social decorum—praising rightful intention even in a formidable, potentially hostile figure.