Shloka 12

जामदग्न्य

रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Devanagari script

अतिसृष्टं सुरैरेकं त्र्यम्बकाय युयुत्सवे।त्रिपुरघ्नं नरश्रेष्ठ भग्नं काकुत्स्थ यत्त्वया।।।।

Transliteration

atisṛṣṭaṃ surair ekaṃ tryambakāya yuyutsave | tripuraghnaṃ naraśreṣṭha bhagnaṃ kākutstha yat tvayā || 1.75.12 ||

Translation

人中至胜者啊，迦库特斯陀啊！这两弓之一——灭三城者——乃诸天赐予三目湿婆，当他欲起战斗之时；你所折断的，正是那张弓。

Word by Word

• atisṛṣṭam: bestowed, sent forth
• atisṛṣṭam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• suraiḥ: by the gods
• suraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ekam: one (of the two)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral/Adjective (विशेषण), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tryambakāya: to Tryambaka (Śiva)
• tryambakāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tryambaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• yuyutsave: to (him) wishing to fight
• yuyutsave: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuyutsu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used substantively; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• tripuraghnam: the slayer of Tripura
• tripuraghnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripura + ghnin/ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); epithet

• naraśreṣṭha: O best of men
• naraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) vocative address; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagnam: broken
• bhagnam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kākutstha: O Kakutstha (Rāma)
• kākutstha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Proper noun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (युष्मद्), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

O Best among men! O Descendant of Kakustha! one of these broken by you, was given by the gods to the three-eyed Siva, who, wishing to fight the demon Tripura with this bow, destroyed him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Śiva (Tryambaka, Śitikaṇṭha implied later)
• Devas (gods)
• Śiva’s bow (commonly identified with Pināka in tradition)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma requires recognising the sanctity and intended purpose of divine gifts; breaking such an object is not trivial and invites moral inquiry into worthiness and consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Paraśurāma identifies the bow Rāma broke as Śiva’s famed divine bow, heightening the seriousness of the encounter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s extraordinary capability—he has performed an act connected to a weapon of cosmic renown, implying exceptional destiny and strength.