Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 76, 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

Hỡi Bhārgava, ngươi khinh miệt oai lực của ta như thể ta thiếu dũng lực, bất lực trước đạo pháp của kṣatriya. Hôm nay, hãy nhìn sức mạnh và uy dũng của ta!

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.