Shloka 71

Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya

Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages

Devanagari script

विपर्ययेण तेनाशु प्रविवेश रसातलम्‌ । अरक्ष्यमाणा विधिवत क्षत्रियैर्धर्मरक्षिभि:

Transliteration

viparyayeṇa tenāśu praviveśa rasātalam | arakṣyamāṇā vidhivat kṣatriyair dharmarakṣibhiḥ ||

Translation

Because of that reversal of order, the Earth quickly began to sink into Rasātala. For she was not being duly protected, as prescribed, by kṣatriyas who are meant to be guardians of dharma.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'viparyaya', 'definition': 'reversal, inversion, disorder (of proper order/dharma)'}, {'term': 'tena', 'definition': 'by that

• because of that (cause previously described)'}, {'term': 'āśu', 'definition': 'quickly, swiftly'}, {'term': 'praviveśa', 'definition': 'entered

• sank into'}, {'term': 'rasātala', 'definition': 'Rasātala, a netherworld/underworld region'}, {'term': 'arakṣyamāṇā', 'definition': 'not being protected (present passive participle)'}, {'term': 'vidhivat', 'definition': 'according to rule

• in the prescribed manner'}, {'term': 'kṣatriyaiḥ', 'definition': 'by kṣatriyas (warrior-rulers)'}, {'term': 'dharmarakṣibhiḥ', 'definition': 'by protectors/guardians of dharma'}]

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (speaker)
• Pṛthivī (the Earth)
• Rasātala
• Kṣatriyas (dharma-guardians)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When rulers fail to uphold and protect dharma in the prescribed way, disorder (viparyaya) spreads and even the Earth is portrayed as suffering cosmic decline—symbolizing the grave ethical consequences of neglected kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva explains that due to a reversal of proper order, the Earth begins to sink into Rasātala because the kṣatriyas—whose role is to guard dharma—are not protecting her according to rule.