Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya
Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages
स पुनस्ताञ्जघानाशु बालानपि नराधिप
sa punas tāñ jaghānāśu bālān api narādhipa
Mais il les frappa de nouveau et promptement—ces mêmes-là—bien qu’ils ne fussent que des enfants, ô roi.
वासुदेव उवाच
The verse highlights an ethical boundary: harming the innocent—especially children—is a grave lapse from dharma. It implicitly contrasts righteous power with cruelty and warns that speed or anger cannot justify violence against the vulnerable.
Vāsudeva addresses a king and describes a person who, returning to violence, quickly strikes down 'them'—explicitly including children—emphasizing the severity and moral ugliness of the act.