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:

Transliteration

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

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“然而当罗摩（帕罗修罗摩）以为我已被杀，婆罗多族之雄啊，他便以如雷云般深沉的声音高声咆哮，并一次又一次地发出得意的笑声。”

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.