Long ago, the gods wished to know who among Śiva and Viṣṇu was the mightier. Perceiving their intent, the Grandfather Brahmā devised a way to reveal the truth. He sowed discord between Śiva and Viṣṇu, the most steadfast of the truthful, and from this arose a tremendous and terrifying battle. Each god strove for the other’s victory, and in the midst of their contest, the formidable bow of Śiva—dreaded by all—was brought forth. As the great Mahādeva, the three-eyed lord, prepared to unleash his strength, a thunderous roar halted him. At that moment, all the gods, along with the hosts of sages and celestial beings, gathered to witness the outcome. The two supreme deities were then entreated for peace by the assembled divinities and sages, and so they withdrew, with all eyes marveling at the bow of Śiva, which had been drawn by Viṣṇu’s extraordinary prowess. The gods and sages, after seeing this, judged Viṣṇu to be the superior. Rudra, however, was angered among the Videhas. In his wrath, he bestowed the mighty bow, along with its arrows, upon King Devarāta, the royal sage. As for Viṣṇu’s own bow, O Rāma, it is famed as the conqueror of enemy cities. Viṣṇu entrusted his excellent bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava, who in turn gave it to his son, a peerless performer of great deeds. My own father, Jamadagni, received this divine bow from his father when he renounced his weapons, empowered by asceticism. But then Arjuna, acting without wisdom, committed a grave sin by killing his father. When I, his son, learned of this cruel and wrongful act, I was consumed by fury and repeatedly destroyed the warrior class in vengeance. Having conquered the entire earth, I offered it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa, as a reward for his virtue. Afterward, I took up residence at Mahendra, endowed with ascetic power. But when I heard of the breaking of the bow, I hastened here at once. Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has been passed down from father to son, from generation to generation. Now, in the spirit of a true warrior, take up this excellent bow. Fit the conquering arrow to it—if you are able, O descendant of Kakutstha—then I shall grant you a duel. At this point, the seventy-sixth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa’s Bāla Kāṇḍa begins. Hearing these words from Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), the son of Daśaratha, Rāma, out of respect, spoke first to his father and then addressed Jāmadagnya directly. “O Bhārgava, I have heard of your mighty deeds. We honor you, O brahmin, for you have fulfilled your father’s debt. Yet you seem to regard me as powerless, lacking valor, and unable to uphold the warrior’s path. Behold my prowess today.” With these words, Rāghava, now angered, seized the mighty weapon of Bhārgava and the arrow from his hand, displaying his swift valor. Rāma strung the bow and readied the arrow; then, his voice stern, he spoke to Jāmadagnya: “You are a brāhmaṇa, worthy of my reverence—just as Viśvāmitra is. Therefore, O Rāma, I cannot release this deadly arrow against you. Instead, I shall destroy either your path, O Rāma, or the worlds you have gained through ascetic power—this is my vow. For this divine arrow of Viṣṇu never falls in vain; by its might, it humbles all arrogance.” As Rāma, wielder of the supreme weapon, stood ready, all the gods, together with the hosts of sages and led by the Grandsire, assembled to witness the event. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas all gathered, eager to behold this wondrous sight. The world seemed to hold its breath as Rāma stood, supreme bow in hand. Jāmadagnya, feeling his strength ebb before Rāma’s radiance, gazed at him with joy and spoke gently: “Long ago, I gave the earth to Kāśyapa, and he commanded that I should not dwell within my own domain. Thus, in obedience to my teacher, I have not dwelt on earth at night since then. “O hero, do not destroy my path; I shall go, swift as thought, to Mahendra, the greatest of mountains. The worlds I have conquered through asceticism—let your peerless arrow strike them, so that the time of destruction may not come. I know you are the eternal slayer of Madhu, the lord of the gods. By your mere touch of this bow, may all be well with you, O destroyer of foes. “All these gods and beings have assembled to witness your unmatched deeds. Nor should it be shameful for me, O descendant of Kakutstha, to be turned away by you, lord of the three worlds. O Rāma of firm vows, release your supreme arrow; when you have done so, I shall depart for Mahendra.” When the mighty Jāmadagnya had spoken thus, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, glorious, released the supreme arrow. Jāmadagnya saw his own worlds—won by asceticism—struck down by Rāma’s power, and at once he departed swiftly to Mahendra, the greatest of mountains. With that, all directions and realms became clear again. The gods and hosts of sages praised Rāma, wielder of the mighty bow. Rāma, son of Daśaratha, was honored by Rāma, son of Jamadagni; then, after respectfully circling him, the latter departed on his own path. Thus concludes the seventy-seventh chapter.