Shloka 3

बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः

Rāma Subdues Paraśurāma; the Vaiṣṇava Arrow Is Discharged

Devanagari script

वीर्यहीनमिवाशक्तं क्षत्रधर्मेण भार्गव।अवजानासि मे तेज: पश्य मेऽद्य पराक्रमम्।।।।

Transliteration

vīryahīnam iva aśaktaṁ kṣatradharmeṇa bhārgava | avajānāsi me tejaḥ paśya me 'dya parākramam ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਭਾਰਗਵ, ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੇਜ ਨੂੰ ਇਉਂ ਘੱਟ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਮੈਂ ਛਤ੍ਰਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਸਮਰਥ ਤੇ ਵੀਰਯਹੀਨ ਹੋਵਾਂ। ਅੱਜ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਤੇ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਵੇਖ ਲੈ।

Word by Word

• vīrya-hīnam: (me) as devoid of valor
• vīrya-hīnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास: vīryeṇa hīnam = 'devoid of valor'

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय)

• aśaktam: incapable
• aśaktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣatra-dharmeṇa: by the kṣatriya-duty
• kṣatra-dharmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kṣatrasya dharmaḥ

• bhārgava: O Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• bhārgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• avajānāsi: you despise/insult
• avajānāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); enclitic form

• tejaḥ: energy, splendor
• tejaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paśya: see, behold
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); enclitic form

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय)

• parākramam: valor, prowess
• parākramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Descendant of Bhrigu! I have listened to the (marvellous) acts you have performed. O Brahman! I commend you for discharging your duty in repaying the debt to your father.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bhārgava (Paraśurāma)
• kṣatra-dharma (kṣatriya duty)

FAQs

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

It asserts kṣatriya-dharma: when challenged unjustly, a protector must demonstrate rightful strength to uphold order, without submitting to contempt that undermines duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma challenges Rāma; Rāma responds that he is not weak and will show his true prowess.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness and rightful self-assertion—confidence grounded in duty rather than ego.