Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 75, 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

اے کاکُتستھ! اس بہترین کمان پر وہ تیر چڑھا جو دشمن کے قلعوں کو بھی فتح کر لے؛ اگر تو یہ کر دکھائے تو پھر میں تجھ سے تن بہ تن مقابلہ کروں گا۔

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.