Shloka 168
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
ऋष्यशृज्गस्य चरितं कौमारब्रह्मचारिण: । जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य चरित॑ं भूरितेजस:,इसके पश्चात् कौमार ब्रह्मचारी ऋष्यशृंगका चरित्र है। फिर परम तेजस्वी जमदग्निनन्दन परशुरामका चरित्र है
ṛṣyaśṛṅgasya caritaṃ kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ | jāmadagnyasya rāmasya caritaṃ bhūri-tejasaḥ ||
(Next comes) the account of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, who lived as a celibate from boyhood; and then the account of Rāma Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), a man of immense splendor.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights two archetypes of dharmic excellence: disciplined brahmacarya (self-mastery and restraint) in Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, and overwhelming tejas (power/energy) in Paraśurāma—suggesting that ethical life may require either inner control, outer strength, or a balance of both, depending on one’s role and circumstance.
The speaker is enumerating upcoming episodes: first the life-story of the youthful celibate sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, and then the life-story of the immensely radiant Rāma Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma). It serves as a transition or contents-style pointer within the unfolding narration.