After witnessing Rāma’s extraordinary strength in stringing the mighty bow, Paraśurāma, the famed Bhārgava sage, addressed him with solemn resolve. “Now that I have seen your power, I shall grant you a duel, for I wish to test your celebrated valor,” he declared, his eyes fixed on Rāma. King Daśaratha, deeply troubled by this challenge, lowered his gaze in distress. With joined palms, he spoke humbly to Paraśurāma, “You, who have calmed the wrath of the warrior class and stand as a great ascetic among Brāhmaṇas, ought to grant safety to my young sons. Born in the Bhārgava lineage, devoted to study and vows, you pledged before Indra and renounced your weapons. Having embraced righteousness, you gave the earth to Kaśyapa and retired to the forest, making your dwelling on Mahendra. O great sage, you have come for the destruction of us all; if Rāma alone is slain, none of us could bear to live.” Yet, Paraśurāma, mighty and resolute, paid no heed to Daśaratha’s words. He turned solely to Rāma and began to recount the history of two divine bows, venerated across the worlds, both powerful and skillfully crafted by Viśvakarman. “One bow was given by the gods to Tryambaka for battle—the very bow you broke, O descendant of Kakutstha, destroyer of Tripura. The second, unconquerable bow was given to Viṣṇu by the best of the gods; this is the Vaiṣṇava bow, O Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities. Both bows are equal in essence. Long ago, the gods questioned the Grandfather, seeking to discern the relative strength of Śiva and Viṣṇu. The Grandfather, understanding their intent, fostered enmity between these two foremost of the truthful, and a great, hair-raising battle ensued. In that fierce conflict, Śiva and Viṣṇu each vied for victory. The terrifying Śiva bow was drawn forth, and Mahādeva, the three-eyed god, was halted by a mighty roar. The gods, sages, and celestial beings gathered, and after entreating the two supreme deities for peace, they departed, marveling at the Śiva bow strained by Viṣṇu’s prowess. The gods and sages concluded that Viṣṇu was superior, though Rudra, illustrious among the Videhas, became enraged. Rudra gave the bow and its arrows to King Devarāta, the royal sage, while Viṣṇu entrusted his bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava. Ṛcīka, radiant in splendor, gave it to his son, unmatched in deeds. My father, Jamadagni, received the divine bow from his father, and when endowed with ascetic power, he laid down his weapons. Arjuna, acting with ordinary intelligence, caused death, and upon hearing of his father’s cruel and improper killing, I repeatedly destroyed the warrior class in anger. Having conquered the earth, I gave it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa at the end of my sacrifice, O Rāma, as a reward for virtuous deeds. Afterward, I dwelt at Mahendra, endowed with ascetic power; but upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, I came here swiftly. Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has come down from father and grandfather. Now, honoring the warrior’s duty, take up this excellent bow. Fit the conquering arrow to the best of bows; if you are able, O descendant of Kakutstha, then I will grant you a duel.” Let the seventy-sixth chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, this is the seventy-sixth chapter. Rāma, son of Daśaratha, listened closely to Paraśurāma’s words. Constrained by respect, he spoke first to his father, then to Paraśurāma himself. “O Bhārgava, I have heard of your deeds; we honor you, O Brahman, for you have fulfilled your father’s debt. Yet you regard me as powerless, lacking valor and unable to uphold the warrior’s duty. Behold my prowess today.” With these words, Rāghava, angered, took the mighty weapon of Bhārgava and the arrow from his hand, swift in valor. He fitted the bow and made the arrow ready. Then, with righteous anger, Rāma addressed Paraśurāma, “You are a Brāhmaṇa and worthy of my reverence, as is Viśvāmitra. Therefore, O Rāma, I am not able to release this arrow—which takes life—against you. Instead, I will either destroy your path, O Rāma, or strike down the worlds, unrivaled, which have been won by the power of asceticism. This is my resolve. For this divine, Viṣṇu’s arrow, O conqueror of enemy cities, does not fall in vain; by its power, it destroys the arrogance of strength.” At that moment, all the gods, along with the hosts of sages and the Grandsire at their head, assembled to witness Rāma, bearer of the supreme weapon. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas gathered, eager to behold the wondrous event. As the world stood motionless, Rāma held the supreme bow. Jāmadagnya, deprived of his vigor by Rāma’s radiance, gazed at him with joy. Rendered inert and humbled, Paraśurāma slowly and gently spoke to Rāma, whose eyes shone like lotus petals. “Long ago, I gave the earth to Kāśyapa. Kāśyapa instructed me that I must not dwell within my own domain. Therefore, obeying my teacher’s command, I do not dwell on earth at night. From that time, O descendant of Kakutstha, I have kept Kāśyapa’s word.” With reverence and humility, Paraśurāma thus acknowledged Rāma’s supremacy, and the assembled gods, sages, and celestial beings witnessed the triumph of virtue and valor.