# Bāla Kāṇḍa 75 — Paraśurāma: Defeat and the surrender of heavenly worlds *Rāma strings the bow, Paraśurāma yields his earned heavenly worlds to retain movement, recognizes Viṣṇu and departs for Mahendra* Portion: The encounter with Paraśurāma · Verses: 23 · Ref format: 1.75. ## Sequence - 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 (75.1–3) - taking the bow and arrow from Paraśurāma, he strings the bow and fits the arrow (75.4–5) - 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 (75.6–8) - 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 (75.9–12). - 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 (75.13–14) - he asks to retain his power of movement so he can return swiftly to Mahendra, accepting the loss of his earned heavenly worlds instead (75.15–16) - 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 (75.17–19) - he asks Rāma to release the arrow → Rāma does so (75.20–21) - the darkness clears from every direction, and the Suras and ṛṣis praise him → Paraśurāma honors Rāma, circles him respectfully, and departs (75.22–23). ## Verses **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): **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. **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.” **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; **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: **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. **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. **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. **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; **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. **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. **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: **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.’ **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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. **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.