Shloka 22

भीष्मस्वप्न-स्मृत्युपाख्यानम् | Bhīṣma’s Dream-Linked Recollection of the Paraśurāma Combat

Devanagari script

शीर्णपर्णेन चैकेन पारयामास सा परम्‌ | संवत्सरं तीव्रकोपा पादाड्गुष्ठाग्रधिछ्ठिता

Transliteration

śīrṇaparṇena caikena pārayāmāsa sā param | saṃvatsaraṃ tīvrakopā pādāṅguṣṭhāgrādhiṣṭhitā ||

Translation

Disse Rāma: Com uma única folha ressequida ela se sustentou e levou sua austeridade ao extremo. Firme na resolução, permaneceu um ano inteiro de pé, apoiada na ponta do dedão do pé.

Word by Word

• शीर्णपर्णेन: with a withered leaf
• शीर्णपर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्णपर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एकेन: with one (single)
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• पारयामास: she carried/maintained (brought through)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पारि (धातु: पॄ/पॄञ्, causative पारयति)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic Perfect), 3rd, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• परम्: the end/limit; the other shore
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तीव्रकोपा: having fierce anger
• तीव्रकोपा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्रकोप
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्राधिष्ठिता: standing/poised on the tip of the big toe
• पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्राधिष्ठिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त from धा + अधि, past passive participle)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• a woman ascetic (sā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical potency of tapas: disciplined restraint and unwavering resolve can elevate a person’s inner strength, making endurance and self-control central virtues in dharmic life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rama describes an extraordinary act of austerity by a woman: she subsists on a single withered leaf and maintains a severe vow for a year, standing balanced on the tip of her great toe.