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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 75: Paraśurāma: Defeat and the surrender of heavenly worlds

Summary. Rāma strings the bow, Paraśurāma yields his earned heavenly worlds to retain movement, recognizes Viṣṇu and departs for Mahendra

Sequence

  1. Out of respect for Daśaratha, Rāma initially restrains his speech → he acknowledges Paraśurāma's account of avenging his father but rejects the suggestion that he lacks warrior courage (1.75.1–3)
  2. taking the bow and arrow from Paraśurāma, he strings the bow and fits the arrow (1.75.4–5)
  3. he says he will spare Paraśurāma's life because he is a brāhmaṇa and out of regard for Viśvāmitra → the divine arrow cannot be released fruitlessly, so Paraśurāma must choose whether to lose his power of movement or the heavenly worlds earned by austerity (1.75.6–8)
  4. Suras and ṛṣis assemble with Brahmā, joined by gandharvas, apsarases, siddhas, cāraṇas, kiṃnaras, yakṣas, rākṣasas and nāgas → overwhelmed by Rāma's radiance and stripped of his former confidence and power, Paraśurāma answers softly. (1.75.9–12)
  1. He explains that after he gave the earth to Kaśyapa, his teacher forbade him to remain within that domain → his promise therefore requires him to leave without spending a night there (1.75.13–14)
  2. he asks to retain his power of movement so he can return swiftly to Mahendra, accepting the loss of his earned heavenly worlds instead (1.75.15–16)
  3. he recognizes Rāma as Viṣṇu through his handling of the bow and declares there is no shame in defeat by the lord of the three worlds (1.75.17–19)
  4. he asks Rāma to release the arrow → Rāma does so (1.75.20–21)
  5. the darkness clears from every direction, and the Suras and ṛṣis praise him → Paraśurāma honors Rāma, circles him respectfully, and departs. (1.75.22–23)

Verses 1.75.1–23

1.75.1

śrutvā taj jāmadagnyasya vākyaṃ dāśarathis tadā
gauravād yantritakathaḥ pitū rāmam athābravīt

Hearing that speech of the son of Jamadagni, the son of Daśaratha then, his words held in check out of respect for his father, spoke to Rāma (Paraśurāma):

Words: śrutvā — having heard; taj — that; jāmadagnyasya — of the son of Jamadagni; vākyaṃ — words; dāśarathis — the son of Daśaratha; tadā — then; gauravād — out of respect; yantritakathaḥ — his speech restrained; pitū — of his father; rāmam — Rāma (Paraśurāma); athābravīt — then spoke

1.75.2

śrutavān asmi yat karma kṛtavān asi bhārgava
anurundhyāmahe brahman pitur ānṛṇyam āsthitaḥ

“I have heard of the deed which you performed, O Bhārgava; we honour it, O brahmin, seeing that you undertook the discharge of your debt to your father.

Words: śrutavān asmi — I have heard; yat — which; karma — deed; kṛtavān asi — you have done; bhārgava — O Bhārgava; anurundhyāmahe — we honour, assent to; brahman — O brahmin; pitur — to your father; ānṛṇyam — discharge of the debt, freedom from debt; āsthitaḥ — having undertaken, abided in

1.75.3

vīryahīnam ivāśaktaṃ kṣatradharmeṇa bhārgava
avajānāmi me tejaḥ paśya me 'dya parākramam

You slight my might, O Bhārgava, as though I were devoid of valour and incapable in the warrior's dharma; behold my energy — see my prowess this day.”

Words: vīryahīnam — devoid of valour; ivāśaktaṃ — as though incapable; kṣatradharmeṇa — in the warrior's dharma; bhārgava — O Bhārgava; avajānāmi — (you) slight, despise; me — my; tejaḥ — energy, might; paśya — behold; me — my; 'dya — today; parākramam — prowess

1.75.4

ity uktvā rāghavaḥ kruddho bhārgavasya varāyudham
śaraṃ ca pratisaṃgṛhya hastāl laghuparākramaḥ

Having spoken thus, the angered Rāghava, of nimble prowess, took the excellent weapon of the Bhārgava, and the arrow, from his hand;

Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having spoken; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); kruddho — angered; bhārgavasya — of the Bhārgava; varāyudham — the excellent weapon (bow); śaraṃ — the arrow; ca — and; pratisaṃgṛhya — having taken, received; hastāl — from the hand; laghuparākramaḥ — of nimble prowess

1.75.5

āropya sa dhanū rāmaḥ śaraṃ sajyaṃ cakāra ha
jāmadagnyaṃ tato rāmaṃ rāmaḥ kruddho 'bravīd vacaḥ

Rāma strung that bow and set the arrow to it; then the angered Rāma spoke these words to Rāma the son of Jamadagni:

Words: āropya — having strung (bent the bow); sa — he; dhanū — the bow; rāmaḥ — Rāma; śaraṃ — the arrow; sajyaṃ cakāra — made ready on the string, nocked; ha — indeed; jāmadagnyaṃ — the son of Jamadagni; tato — then; rāmaṃ — Rāma; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kruddho — angered; 'bravīd — spoke; vacaḥ — words

1.75.6

brāhmaṇo 'sīti pūjyo me viśvāmitrakṛtena ca
tasmāc chakto na te rāma moktuṃ prāṇaharaṃ śaram

“Since you are a brahmin, you are worthy of my honour, and for Viśvāmitra's sake; therefore, O Rāma, I am not able to loose against you the life-taking arrow.

Words: brāhmaṇo — a brahmin; 'sīti — ‘you are’, (thinking) thus; pūjyo — worthy of honour; me — by me, my; viśvāmitrakṛtena — for Viśvāmitra's sake; ca — and; tasmāc — therefore; chakto — able; na — not; te — against you; rāma — O Rāma; moktuṃ — to loose, release; prāṇaharaṃ — life-taking; śaram — the arrow

1.75.7

imāṃ vā tvadgatiṃ rāma tapobalasamārjitān
lokān apratimān vāpi haniṣyāmi yad icchasi

Either this power of movement of yours, O Rāma, or else the incomparable worlds you have won by the power of your austerity — one of these I shall destroy, whichever you wish.

Words: imāṃ — this; vā — or; tvadgatiṃ — your power of movement; rāma — O Rāma; tapobalasamārjitān — won by the power of austerity; lokān — the worlds; apratimān — incomparable; vāpi — or else; haniṣyāmi — I shall destroy; yad — which; icchasi — you wish

1.75.8

na hy ayaṃ vaiṣṇavo divyaḥ śaraḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
moghaḥ patati vīryeṇa baladarpavināśanaḥ

For this divine arrow of Viṣṇu, conqueror of enemy cities, destroyer of might and pride, does not, by reason of its power, fall in vain.

Words: na hy — for not; ayaṃ — this; vaiṣṇavo — of Viṣṇu; divyaḥ — divine; śaraḥ — arrow; parapuraṃjayaḥ — conqueror of enemy cities; moghaḥ — in vain, fruitless; patati — falls; vīryeṇa — by its power; baladarpavināśanaḥ — destroyer of strength and pride

1.75.9

varāyudhadharaṃ rāma draṣṭuṃ sarṣigaṇāḥ surāḥ
pitāmahaṃ puraskṛtya sametās tatra saṃghaśaḥ

To behold Rāma bearing the excellent weapon, the gods with the hosts of seers, placing the Grandsire (Brahmā) before them, assembled there in throngs;

Words: varāyudhadharaṃ — bearing the excellent weapon; rāma — Rāma; draṣṭuṃ — to behold; sarṣigaṇāḥ — with the hosts of seers; surāḥ — the gods; pitāmahaṃ — the Grandsire (Brahmā); puraskṛtya — placing before, at their head; sametās — assembled; tatra — there; saṃghaśaḥ — in throngs, in groups

1.75.10

gandharvāpsarasaś caiva siddhacāraṇakiṃnarāḥ
yakṣarākṣasanāgāś ca tad draṣṭuṃ mahad adbhutam

gandharvas and apsarases, siddhas, cāraṇas and kiṃnaras, and yakṣas, rākṣasas and nāgas — (all came) to behold that great marvel.

Words: gandharvāpsarasaś — gandharvas and apsarases; caiva — and; siddhacāraṇakiṃnarāḥ — siddhas, cāraṇas and kiṃnaras; yakṣarākṣasanāgāś — yakṣas, rākṣasas and nāgas; ca — and; tad — that; draṣṭuṃ — to behold; mahad — great; adbhutam — marvel, wonder

1.75.11

jaḍīkṛte tadā loke rāme varadhanurdhare
nirvīryo jāmadagnyo 'sau ramo rāmam udaikṣata

When the world had been struck motionless, as Rāma bore the excellent bow, that son of Jamadagni, robbed of his valour, gazed up at Rāma.

Words: jaḍīkṛte — struck motionless (loc. abs.); tadā — then; loke — the world (loc. abs.); rāme — Rāma (loc. abs.); varadhanurdhare — bearing the excellent bow (loc. abs.); nirvīryo — robbed of valour; jāmadagnyo — the son of Jamadagni; 'sau — that; ramo — Rāma; rāmam — Rāma; udaikṣata — gazed up at

1.75.12

tejobhir hatavīryatvāj jāmadagnyo jaḍīkṛtaḥ
rāmaṃ kamala patrākṣaṃ mandaṃ mandam uvāca ha

His valour struck down by (Rāma's) splendour, the son of Jamadagni, made motionless, spoke very softly to the lotus-petal-eyed Rāma:

Words: tejobhir — by the splendour; hatavīryatvāj — because his valour was struck down; jāmadagnyo — the son of Jamadagni; jaḍīkṛtaḥ — made motionless, stunned; rāmaṃ — Rāma; kamala — lotus-; patrākṣaṃ — petal-eyed; mandaṃ mandam — very softly, slowly; uvāca — said; ha — indeed

1.75.13

kāśyapāya mayā dattā yadā pūrvaṃ vasuṃdharā
viṣaye me na vastavyam iti māṃ kāśyapo 'bravīt

“When formerly the earth was given by me to Kāśyapa, Kāśyapa said to me: ‘Within my domain you must not dwell.’

Words: kāśyapāya — to Kāśyapa; mayā — by me; dattā — given; yadā — when; pūrvaṃ — formerly; vasuṃdharā — the earth; viṣaye — in the domain, realm; me — my; na vastavyam — not to be dwelt in; iti — thus; māṃ — to me; kāśyapo — Kāśyapa; 'bravīt — said

1.75.14

so 'haṃ guruvacaḥ kurvan pṛthivyāṃ na vase niśām
iti pratijñā kākutstha kṛtā vai kāśyapasya ha

So I, carrying out my guru's word, do not dwell a single night upon the earth; such a vow, O Kākutstha, was indeed made to Kāśyapa.

Words: so 'haṃ — so I; guruvacaḥ — the guru's word; kurvan — carrying out, doing; pṛthivyāṃ — on the earth; na vase — I do not dwell; niśām — (for) a night; iti — thus; pratijñā — vow, promise; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; kṛtā — made; vai — indeed; kāśyapasya — to Kāśyapa; ha — indeed

1.75.15

tad imāṃ tvaṃ gatiṃ vīra hantuṃ nārhasi rāghava
manojavaṃ gamiṣyāmi mahendraṃ parvatottamam

Therefore, O hero, O Rāghava, you ought not to destroy this power of movement of mine; I shall go, swift as thought, to Mahendra, the best of mountains.

Words: tad — therefore; imāṃ — this; tvaṃ — you; gatiṃ — power of movement, motion; vīra — O hero; hantuṃ — to destroy; nārhasi — you ought not; rāghava — O Rāghava; manojavaṃ — swift as thought; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; mahendraṃ — to Mahendra; parvatottamam — the best of mountains

1.75.16

lokās tv apratimā rāma nirjitās tapasā mayā
jahi tāñ śaramukhyena mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ

But the incomparable worlds, O Rāma, which I have won by my austerity — destroy those with your chief arrow; let there be no passing of the (right) time.

Words: lokās — the worlds; tv — but; apratimā — incomparable; rāma — O Rāma; nirjitās — won, conquered; tapasā — by austerity; mayā — by me; jahi — destroy, strike; tāñ — those; śaramukhyena — with the chief arrow; mā bhūt — let there not be; kālasya — of the time; paryayaḥ — passing, lapse

1.75.17

akṣayyaṃ madhuhantāraṃ jānāmi tvāṃ sureśvaram
dhanuṣo 'sya parāmarśāt svasti te 'stu paraṃtapa

I know you to be the imperishable slayer of Madhu, the lord of the gods — I know it from your very handling of this bow. May it be well with you, O scorcher of foes.

Words: akṣayyaṃ — imperishable; madhuhantāraṃ — the slayer of Madhu; jānāmi — I know; tvāṃ — you; sureśvaram — the lord of the gods; dhanuṣo — of the bow; 'sya — this; parāmarśāt — from the handling, grasping; svasti — well-being; te — to you; 'stu — let it be; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes

1.75.18

ete suragaṇāḥ sarve nirīkṣante samāgatāḥ
tvām apratimakarmāṇam apratidvandvam āhave

All these hosts of gods, assembled here, are gazing upon you, whose deeds are without equal and who has no rival in battle.

Words: ete — these; suragaṇāḥ — the hosts of gods; sarve — all; nirīkṣante — are gazing; samāgatāḥ — assembled; tvām — you; apratimakarmāṇam — of incomparable deeds; apratidvandvam — without a rival; āhave — in battle

1.75.19

na ceyaṃ mama kākutstha vrīḍā bhavitum arhati
tvayā trailokyanāthena yad ahaṃ vimukhīkṛtaḥ

Nor, O Kākutstha, ought this to be any shame for me — that I have been turned back by you, the lord of the three worlds.

Words: na — not; ceyaṃ — and this; mama — my, for me; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; vrīḍā — shame, disgrace; bhavitum — to be; arhati — ought; tvayā — by you; trailokyanāthena — the lord of the three worlds; yad — that; ahaṃ — I; vimukhīkṛtaḥ — turned back, made to turn away

1.75.20

śaram apratimaṃ rāma moktum arhasi suvrata
śaramokṣe gamiṣyāmi mahendraṃ parvatottamam

You may loose that incomparable arrow, O Rāma of good vows; when the arrow is released, I shall go to Mahendra, the best of mountains.”

Words: śaram — the arrow; apratimaṃ — incomparable; rāma — O Rāma; moktum — to loose, release; arhasi — you may, ought; suvrata — O (you) of good vows; śaramokṣe — at the release of the arrow; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; mahendraṃ — to Mahendra; parvatottamam — the best of mountains

1.75.21

tathā bruvati rāme tu jāmadagnye pratāpavān
rāmo dāśarathiḥ śrīmāṃś cikṣepa śaram uttamam

As Rāma the son of Jamadagni spoke thus, the mighty and illustrious Rāma son of Daśaratha loosed that excellent arrow.

Words: tathā — thus; bruvati — (as he was) speaking (loc. abs.); rāme — Rāma (loc. abs.); tu — and; jāmadagnye — the son of Jamadagni (loc. abs.); pratāpavān — mighty, valorous; rāmo — Rāma; dāśarathiḥ — the son of Daśaratha; śrīmāṃś — illustrious; cikṣepa — loosed, hurled; śaram — the arrow; uttamam — excellent

1.75.22

tato vitimirāḥ sarvā diśā copadiśas tathā
surāḥ sarṣigaṇā rāmaṃ praśaśaṃsur udāyudham

Then all the quarters and the intermediate quarters likewise became free of darkness; and the gods with the hosts of seers praised Rāma, his weapon raised.

Words: tato — then; vitimirāḥ — free of darkness; sarvā — all; diśā — the quarters; copadiśas — and the intermediate quarters; tathā — likewise; surāḥ — the gods; sarṣigaṇā — with the hosts of seers; rāmaṃ — Rāma; praśaśaṃsur — praised; udāyudham — with weapon raised

1.75.23

rāmaṃ dāśarathiṃ rāmo jāmadagnyaḥ praśasya ca
tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya jagāmātmagatiṃ prabhuḥ

And Rāma the son of Jamadagni, having praised Rāma the son of Daśaratha, then circumambulated him to the right, and the lord went his own way.

Words: rāmaṃ — Rāma; dāśarathiṃ — the son of Daśaratha; rāmo — Rāma; jāmadagnyaḥ — the son of Jamadagni; praśasya — having praised; ca — and; tataḥ — then; pradakṣiṇīkṛtya — having circumambulated to the right; jagāmātmagatiṃ — went to his own course/abode; prabhuḥ — the lord

← 1.74 Paraśurāma: The two divine bows and the challenge · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.76 Return to Ayodhyā: The couples’ reception and married life →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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