Shloka 16

Bhīṣma–Jāmadagnya-saṃvādaḥ

Bhishma’s account of the encounter with Rāma Jāmadagnya

Devanagari script

यथा रामो बाणजालाभितप्त- स्तथैवाहं सुभृशं गाढविद्ध: । ततो युद्ध व्यरमच्चापराह्ने भानावस्तं प्रति याते मही ध्रम्‌ू

Transliteration

yathā rāmo bāṇajālābhitaptaḥ tathaivāhaṃ subhṛśaṃ gāḍhaviddhaḥ | tato yuddhaṃ vyaramac cāparāhṇe bhānāv astaṃ prati yāte mahīdhram ||

Translation

ମୋ ଘନ ବାଣଜାଳରେ ରାମ (ପରଶୁରାମ) ଯେପରି ସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ହେଉଥିଲେ, ସେପରି ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କ ବାଣରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଓ ଗଭୀର ଭାବେ ବିଦ୍ଧ ହେଉଥିଲି। ପରେ ଅପରାହ୍ନରେ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଅସ୍ତାଚଳ ଦିଗକୁ ଯାଉଥିବାବେଳେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ବନ୍ଦ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'just as, in the manner that', 'rāmaḥ': 'Rāma

• here Paraśurāma', 'bāṇa-jāla': 'a net/cluster of arrows

• dense volley', 'abhitaptaḥ': 'heated, scorched, tormented (by)', 'tathā eva': 'so indeed, likewise', 'aham': 'I', 'subhṛśam': 'exceedingly, very greatly', 'gāḍha-viddhaḥ': 'deeply pierced, severely wounded', 'tataḥ': 'then, thereafter', 'yuddham': 'battle, combat', 'vyaramat': 'ceased, came to a halt', 'ca': 'and', 'aparāhṇe': 'in the latter part of the day

• late afternoon', 'bhānau': 'when the sun (locative absolute)', 'astam': 'setting

• the act/state of setting', 'prati': 'toward', 'yāte': 'having gone, having moved', 'mahīdhram': 'mountain (lit. ‘earth-holder’)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Rāma (Paraśurāma)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• the Sun (Bhānu)
• mountain (mahīdhra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in fierce conflict, warriors observe time-bound restraint: combat is halted at sunset. The verse highlights disciplined adherence to accepted rules of battle alongside acknowledgment of mutual prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recounts his duel with Paraśurāma: each wounds the other with heavy arrow volleys, and the day’s fighting ends when the sun sets behind the mountain.