Shloka 21

Bhīṣma’s Retrospective of the Jāmadagnya Rāma Encounter

Divyāstra-Pratiyuddha and Twilight Cessation

Devanagari script

अनेक सहखस््र ब्राह्मणोंको बहुत दान करनेवाले परशुरामजीके धराशायी होनेपर अधिकाधिक रक्तकी वर्षा करते हुए बादलोंने आकाशको ढक लिया

Transliteration

aneka-sahasra-brāhmaṇebhyo bahu-dāna-pradāyinaḥ paraśurāmasya dharāśāyini bhūte, adhikādhika-rakta-varṣaṃ kurvantaḥ meghā ākāśaṃ ācchādayām āsuḥ.

Translation

毗湿摩说道：当以厚施千千婆罗门而著称的帕罗修罗摩倒伏于地时，乌云蔽空，倾下愈发浓重的血雨。

Word by Word

• अनेक: many
• अनेक: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सहस्र: thousands
• सहस्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बहु: much
• बहु: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दानम्: gift, donation
• दानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वतः: of (him) doing / while doing
• कुर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• परशुरामस्य: of Parashurama
• परशुरामस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशुराम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• धराशायिनः: of (him) fallen to the ground
• धराशायिनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धराशायी
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अधिकाधिकम्: more and more
• अधिकाधिकम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधिकाधिक

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वर्षन्तः: raining, pouring
• वर्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आच्छादयन्: covering
• आच्छादयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-छद्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Paraśurāma
• brāhmaṇas
• clouds
• sky
• rain of blood

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that acts of extreme violence—even involving famed and charitable figures—carry moral weight that reverberates beyond the battlefield. Nature’s ominous signs (blood-rain, darkened sky) function as an ethical commentary: adharma and the disruption of cosmic order manifest as inauspicious portents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a dramatic omen occurring when Paraśurāma is brought down to the ground: clouds cover the sky and an intensifying rain of blood falls. The narration heightens the gravity of the confrontation and frames Paraśurāma’s fall as an event of world-shaking significance.