Shloka 11
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
ततः परशुमादाय स तं बाहुसहस्रिणम् । चिच्छेद सहसा रामो बहुशाखमिव द्रुमम्
tataḥ paraśum ādāya sa taṃ bāhusahasriṇam | ciccheda sahasā rāmo bahuśākham iva drumam ||
Alors, saisissant sa hache, Rāma trancha d’un seul élan cet ennemi aux mille bras, comme on abat un arbre aux multiples branches.
समुद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked might, even when vast and intimidating, is not self-justifying; dharma requires that destructive excess be restrained decisively. The simile of felling a many-branched tree highlights that overwhelming force can be brought down by focused, rightful action.
Samudra narrates that Rāma (Paraśurāma) takes up his axe and swiftly cuts down a formidable thousand-armed adversary, likening the act to chopping down a tree with many branches.