Shloka 6
Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
राम: सञ्चोदित: पित्रा भ्रातृन् मात्रा सहावधीत् । प्रभावज्ञो मुने: सम्यक् समाधेस्तपसश्च स: ॥ ६ ॥
rāmaḥ sañcoditaḥ pitrā bhrātṝn mātrā sahāvadhīt prabhāva-jño muneḥ samyak samādhes tapasaś ca saḥ
Jamadagni commanded Rama (Paraśurāma) to slay his disobedient brothers and his mother, who had committed adultery in the mind. Knowing his father’s power, born of austerity and samādhi, Lord Paraśurāma at once killed his mother and brothers.
The word prabhāva-jñaḥ is significant. Paraśurāma knew the prowess of his father, and therefore he agreed to carry out his father’s order. He thought that if he refused to carry out the order he would be cursed, but if he carried it out his father would be pleased, and when his father was pleased, Paraśurāma would ask the benediction of having his mother and brothers brought back to life. Paraśurāma was confident in this regard, and therefore he agreed to kill his mother and brothers.
FAQs
This verse highlights that a sage’s true influence comes from perfected samādhi and austerity, a spiritual potency that a discerning person recognizes even amid severe events.
In this episode, Rāma follows his father’s order, reflecting the narrative’s tension between obedience to authority and the grave consequences of actions within a dharma-testing situation.
It points to the importance of recognizing genuine spiritual strength—self-control, discipline, and deep inner focus—rather than judging only by external power or emotion.