Shloka 57
Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya
Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages
परावसुर्महाराज क्षिप्त्वा55ह जनसंसदि । ये ते ययातिपतने यज्ञे सन्त: समागता:
parāvasur mahārāja kṣiptvā ha jana-saṁsadi | ye te yayāti-patane yajñe santaḥ samāgatāḥ ||
Vāsudeva said: “O great king, Parāvasu, casting his reproach in the public assembly, declared: ‘Rāma! When King Yayāti fell from heaven, were not the virtuous men—Pratardana and others—gathered at the sacrifice kṣatriyas? Your vow is false. You boast in vain before the people, saying, “I have ended the kṣatriyas.” I think you took refuge in the mountains out of fear of kṣatriya heroes. Even now, across the earth, hundreds of kṣatriyas have again filled the land.’”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage critiques empty boasting and tests the integrity of vows: public claims must align with reality, and ethical authority is undermined when one’s pledge is shown to be exaggerated or false.
In an assembly, Parāvasu challenges Rāma (Paraśurāma) by citing earlier Kṣatriyas present at Yayāti’s sacrificial gathering, arguing that Kṣatriyas still existed and have reappeared, thus portraying Rāma’s claim of exterminating them as untrue and motivated by fear.