Shloka 28

जामदग्न्य

रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Devanagari script

योजयस्व धनुश्श्रेष्ठे शरं परपुरञ्जयम्।यदि शक्नोषि काकुत्स्थ द्वन्द्वं दास्यामि ते तत:।।।।

Transliteration

yojayasva dhanuśśreṣṭhe śaraṃ parapurañjayam | yadi śaknoṣi kākutstha dvandvaṃ dāsyāmi te tataḥ ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਧਨੁਸ਼-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਜਿੱਤਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਇਹ ਬਾਣ ਇਸ ਉੱਤਮ ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਉੱਤੇ ਜੋੜ; ਜੇ ਤੂੰ ਸਮਰੱਥ ਹੈਂ, ਹੇ ਕਾਕੁਤਸਥ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਦ੍ਵੰਦ੍ਵ-ਯੁੱਧ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।

Word by Word

• yojayasva: fix/fit
• yojayasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Ātmanepada, 2nd person, Singular; causative sense in usage 'fit/attach'

• dhanuḥśreṣṭhe: in the excellent bow
• dhanuḥśreṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Napumsaka, Locative (7), Singular; 'in the best bow'

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• parapurañjayam: conquering enemy cities
• parapurañjayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para + pura + jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; adjective qualifying śaram

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-अव्यय)

• śaknoṣi: you are able
• śaknoṣi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (शक् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

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

• dvandvam: duel
• dvandvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

• dāsyāmi: I shall give/offer
• dāsyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb 'then/thereupon' (ततः-अव्यय)

Context

O Descendant of Kakustha! this best bow is capable of conquering enemy cities. Fix an arrow. If it is possible for you to do so, then I shall engage you in a duel".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē pañcasaptatitamassarga: ৷৷Thus ends the seventyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Paraśurāma
• Vaiṣṇava bow
• Arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as regulated valor: combat is framed as a formal, capability-based test rather than impulsive violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma sets a condition: if Rāma can string/ready the Vaiṣṇava bow with a powerful arrow, Paraśurāma will fight him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣātra-tejas (martial splendor) under discipline—strength proven through skill and composure.