Shloka 17

जामदग्न्य

रामसंवादः — Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Devanagari script

तदा तु जृम्भितं शैवं धनुर्भीमपराक्रमम्।हुङ्कारेण महादेव स्तम्भितोऽथ त्रिलोचन:।।।।

Transliteration

tadā tu jṛmbhitaṃ śaivaṃ dhanur bhīma-parākramam |

huṅkāreṇa mahādevaḥ stambhito 'tha trilocanaḥ ||

Translation

其时，湿婆那威猛可怖的神弓绷紧作响；而毗湿奴以震彻的“吽（huṃ）”一声，使三眼大自在天（Mahādeva）受制而止。

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• jṛmbhitam: stretched open / yawned
• jṛmbhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jṛmbh (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaivam: Śiva’s
• śaivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhīma-parākramam: of dreadful prowess
• bhīma-parākramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Adjective (विशेषण), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• huṅkāreṇa: by the ‘huṃ’ roar
• huṅkāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: huṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahādeva: O Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya name; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• stambhitaḥ: was immobilized
• stambhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate of trilocanaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stambh (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात) indicating sequence

• trilocanaḥ: the three-eyed one (Śiva)
• trilocanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) epithet ‘having three eyes’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Then, with the 'Humkara' produced by Visnu, Siva's bow of dreadful prowess was stretched, which struck the three-eyed Mahadeva motionless.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Mahādeva, Trilocana)
• Viṣṇu
• Śiva’s bow (Pināka/Śaiva-dhanuḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma here points to the restoration of cosmic balance: overwhelming force is restrained, and divine power is shown as governed by order rather than unchecked rage.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse recalls the ancient contest involving Śiva’s bow and the divine powers of Viṣṇu and Śiva, explaining the bow’s fearsome nature and why it becomes subdued.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (niyama/saṃyama): even the mightiest powers are depicted as capable of being checked for the sake of peace and order.