Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6
Mahārāja Sagara, Kapila Muni, and the Deliverance of the Sixty Thousand Sons
यस्तालजङ्घान् यवनाञ्छकान् हैहयबर्बरान् । नावधीद् गुरुवाक्येन चक्रे विकृतवेषिण: ॥ ५ ॥ मुण्डाञ्छ्मश्रुधरान् कांश्चिन्मुक्तकेशार्धमुण्डितान् । अनन्तर्वासस: कांश्चिदबहिर्वाससोऽपरान् ॥ ६ ॥
yas tālajaṅghān yavanāñ chakān haihaya-barbarān nāvadhīd guru-vākyena cakre vikṛta-veṣiṇaḥ
Atas perintah guru Aurva, Maharaja Sagara tidak membunuh bangsa-bangsa kasar seperti Tālajaṅgha, Yavana, Śaka, Haihaya, dan Barbara. Sebaliknya, ia menetapkan rupa yang berbeda-beda: ada yang digunduli namun dibiarkan berkumis, ada yang berambut terurai, ada yang setengah gundul, ada yang tanpa pakaian dalam, dan ada yang tanpa pakaian luar. Dengan demikian mereka dibedakan lewat busana, tetapi tidak dibinasakan.
FAQs
This verse shows that Paraśurāma restrained violence and followed his guru’s command, choosing discipline and transformation over killing—highlighting guru-vākya as a guiding principle of dharma.
Because his guru instructed him not to kill them; Paraśurāma instead marked them with distinctive outward appearances, indicating submission to higher spiritual authority.
It teaches restraint and principled action: even when one has power to punish, one should act under wise guidance, choosing corrective measures over impulsive harm.