Shloka 9

Bhīṣma’s Retrospective of the Jāmadagnya Rāma Encounter

Divyāstra-Pratiyuddha and Twilight Cessation

Devanagari script

मत्वा तु निहतं रामस्ततो मां भरतर्षभ । मेघवद्‌ विननादोच्चैर्जहषे च पुनः पुन:,भरतश्रेष्ठ] उस समय मुझे मारा गया जानकर परशुरामजी मेघके समान गम्भीर स्वरसे गर्जना करने लगे। उनके शरीरमें बार-बार हर्षजनित रोमांच होने लगा

Transliteration

matvā tu nihataṃ rāmas tato māṃ bharatarṣabha | meghavad vinanādoccair jahaṣe ca punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Nhưng khi Rāma (Paraśurāma) tưởng rằng ta đã bị giết, hỡi bậc tráng sĩ của dòng Bharata, ngài gầm vang lớn với âm trầm như mây sấm, và hết lần này đến lần khác bật cười khoái trá.”

Word by Word

• मत्वा: having thought/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• निहतम्: slain/killed
• निहतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रामः: Rama (Parashurama)
• रामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: 1st, Accusative, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मेघवत्: like a cloud
• मेघवत्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघवत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (adverbial use), Singular

• विननाद: roared/resounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उच्चैः: loudly/aloud
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः

• जहषे: laughed/rejoiced
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

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

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• पुनः: again (repeatedly)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Rama (Parashurama)
• Bharatarshabha (addressed listener)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intense rivalry and wounded honor can produce triumphal exultation even amid violence. It implicitly cautions that martial prowess and pride may eclipse discernment, a recurring ethical tension in the epic’s treatment of kshatriya conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s recollection of his duel with Parashurama, Parashurama momentarily believes Bhishma has been killed. Reacting to that belief, he thunders loudly like a rain-cloud and repeatedly laughs in exhilaration.