Shloka 5
Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
व्यभिचारं मुनिर्ज्ञात्वा पत्न्या: प्रकुपितोऽब्रवीत् । घ्नतैनां पुत्रका: पापामित्युक्तास्ते न चक्रिरे ॥ ५ ॥
vyabhicāraṁ munir jñātvā patnyāḥ prakupito ’bravīt ghnataināṁ putrakāḥ pāpām ity uktās te na cakrire
The great sage Jamadagni, discerning the adulterous impulse within his wife’s mind, became enraged and said, “My sons, slay this sinful woman!” Yet the sons, though commanded, did not carry out his order.
FAQs
This verse presents the grave view of marital deviation (vyabhicāra) and shows how seriously a sage like Jamadagni regarded it, treating it as sinful and demanding immediate punishment—highlighting the ethical weight placed on fidelity and self-control.
After perceiving his wife’s lapse from chastity, Jamadagni—overcome by anger—issued a harsh command to test and enforce discipline within his household. The narrative stresses the intensity of his reaction and sets up the later contrast between different sons’ responses.
The verse warns that uncontrolled anger can lead to extreme, harmful decisions, and it also shows that moral crises demand discernment—balancing duty, compassion, and restraint rather than acting impulsively.