Shloka 15
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
दीप्तात्मानमहं तं च हनिष्यामीति भार्गव । “महामुने राम! प्रभो! ऐसा होनेसे आपकी कही हुई बात सत्य सिद्ध होगी। वीरवर भार्गव! आपने समस्त क्षत्रियोंको जीतकर ब्राह्मणोंके बीचमें यह प्रतिज्ञा की थी कि यदि कोई ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य अथवा शाद्र ब्राह्मणोंसे द्वेष करेगा तो मैं उसे निश्चय ही मार डालूँगा। साथ ही भयभीत होकर शरणमें आये हुए शरणार्थियोंका परित्याग मैं जीते-जी किसी प्रकार नहीं कर सकूँगा और जो युद्धमें एकत्र हुए सम्पूर्ण क्षत्रियोंको जीत लेगा, उस तेजस्वी पुरुषका भी मैं वध कर डालूँगा || ११--१४ ह |। स एवं विजयी राम भीष्म: कुरुकुलोदवह: । तेन युध्यस्व संग्रामे समेत्य भूगुनन्दन,'भृगुनन्दन राम! इस प्रकार कुरुकुलका भार वहन करनेवाला भीष्म समस्त क्षत्रियोंपर विजय पा चुका है; अतः आप संग्राममें उसके सामने जाकर युद्ध कीजिये”
dīptātmānam ahaṃ taṃ ca haniṣyāmīti bhārgava |
Bhīṣma said: “O Bhārgava (Rāma), ‘I will surely slay that radiant-souled man as well.’” In context, Bhīṣma invokes Paraśurāma’s own publicly declared vows—punishing those who bear hatred toward brāhmaṇas, never abandoning one who seeks refuge in fear, and even killing the exceptionally powerful warrior who conquers the assembled kṣatriyas—so that Paraśurāma’s words may remain true. He points to Bhīṣma’s victory over the kṣatriyas and challenges Paraśurāma to meet him in battle, framing the conflict as a test of vow, dharma, and consistency between proclamation and action.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical weight of a vow: public declarations bind the speaker to consistent action. Bhīṣma frames the impending combat as a dharma-test—whether Paraśurāma will uphold his proclaimed commitments (punishing hostility to brāhmaṇas, protecting those who seek refuge, and confronting the supreme conqueror) even when the consequence is a grave and personal conflict.
Bhīṣma addresses Paraśurāma (Bhārgava), citing Paraśurāma’s earlier vows and asserting that, since Bhīṣma has already defeated the assembled kṣatriyas, Paraśurāma should come and fight him. The line quoted here encapsulates the resolve to slay the ‘radiant-souled’ opponent, intensifying the challenge and setting the moral stakes of the duel.