Shloka 12
भीष्म–रामजामदग्न्ययुद्धप्रस्थानवर्णनम्
Bhishma’s Account of Parashurama’s Challenge and the March to Kurukshetra
ततो5हमस्त्रमाग्नेयमनुमन्त्र्य प्रयुक्तवान् । वारुणेनैव तद् रामो वारयामास मे विभु:,तत्पश्चात् मैंने मन्त्रसे अभिमन्त्रित करके आग्नेयास्त्रका प्रयोग किया; किंतु भगवान् परशुरामने वारुणास्त्र चलाकर उसका निवारण कर दिया
tato 'ham astram āgneyam anumantrya prayuktavān | vāruṇenaiva tad rāmo vārayāmāsa me vibhuḥ ||
Sesudah itu, setelah kuperkasakan dengan mantra yang sewajarnya, aku melepaskan Senjata Api (Agneya-astra). Namun Rāma (Paraśurāma) yang perkasa segera menahannya dengan melepaskan Senjata Varuṇa (Vāruṇa-astra).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined use of power: even formidable force (fire-weapon) is ethically and tactically bounded by higher mastery and appropriate countermeasures (water-weapon), implying that true strength includes restraint and control.
Bhīṣma narrates that he launched the Agneyāstra after mantra-consecration, but Paraśurāma immediately neutralized it by deploying the Vāruṇāstra, demonstrating his superior command over celestial weapons in their confrontation.