Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
ज्येष्ठं मन्त्रदृशं चक्रुस्त्वामन्वञ्चो वयं स्म हि । विश्वामित्र: सुतानाह वीरवन्तो भविष्यथ । ये मानं मेऽनुगृह्णन्तो वीरवन्तमकर्त माम् ॥ ३५ ॥
jyeṣṭhaṁ mantra-dṛśaṁ cakrus tvām anvañco vayaṁ sma hi viśvāmitraḥ sutān āha vīravanto bhaviṣyatha ye mānaṁ me ’nugṛhṇanto vīravantam akarta mām
Thus the younger Madhucchandās accepted Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother and seer of mantras, saying, “We shall follow your commands.” Viśvāmitra, pleased with his obedient sons, blessed them: “Because you have honored my order, may you become fathers of valiant sons.”
Of the one hundred sons, half disobeyed Viśvāmitra by not accepting Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother, but the other half accepted his order. Therefore the father blessed the obedient sons to become the fathers of sons. Otherwise they too would have been cursed to be sonless mlecchas.
This verse highlights that honoring a great ṛṣi like Viśvāmitra brings empowerment and auspicious results—his sons are blessed to become “vīravantaḥ” (heroic) because they respected and supported him.
In the narrative, Viśvāmitra acknowledges their supportive conduct and rewards it with a blessing, stating that their honoring him made him strong and thus they will also gain heroic qualities.
Show sincere respect and service to authentic teachers and elders; such humility and support cultivate inner strength, discipline, and благessing-like encouragement that helps one grow in character and spiritual practice.