Shloka 4

Bhīṣma’s Recollection of the Duel: Charioteer’s Fall, Brahmin Protection, and Portents after Rāma’s Collapse

Devanagari script

ततः परमसंक्रुद्ध: पुनरेव महातपा: । ह्ास्तनेन च कोपेन शर्ति वै प्राहिणोन्मयि,तब महातपस्वी परशुराम पुनः मुझपर अत्यन्त कुपित हो गये। पहले दिनका भी कोप था ही। उससे प्रेरित होकर उन्होंने मेरे ऊपर शक्ति चलायी

Transliteration

tataḥ parama-saṅkruddhaḥ punar eva mahā-tapāḥ | hāstena ca kopena śaktiṃ vai prāhiṇon mayi ||

Translation

Kemudian pertapa agung Paraśurāma, menyala dengan murka yang amat sangat sekali lagi—amarah dari hari sebelumnya masih membara—melemparkan senjata śakti tepat ke arahku.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

परम-संक्रुद्धःextremely enraged

पुनःagain

एवindeed, just

महातपाःthe great ascetic (Parashurama)

हस्तेनwith (his) hand

चand

कोपेनwith anger

शक्तिम्a spear/javelin (weapon शक्ति)

वैindeed, surely

प्राहिणोत्he hurled/sent forth

मयिupon me, at me

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Paraśurāma

Śakti (weapon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even spiritual discipline (tapas) does not automatically prevent moral lapse; when anger is indulged, it can override restraint and push one toward disproportionate violence. The verse highlights the ethical need for self-control, especially among the powerful.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that Paraśurāma, becoming extremely angry again—still carrying the previous day’s rage—launches the śakti weapon at Bhīṣma, intensifying their martial confrontation.