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 ||
Wahai Maharaja! Parāvasu, melemparkan celaan di hadapan sidang rakyat, berkata: “Rāma! Pada saat Yayāti jatuh, para bijak seperti Pratardana yang berkumpul dalam yajña itu bukankah kṣatriya? Rāma, sumpahmu dusta; sia-sia engkau menyombong di hadapan umum, ‘Aku telah mengakhiri para kṣatriya.’ Menurutku, karena takut kepada para pahlawan kṣatriya engkau berlindung ke pegunungan. Bahkan kini pun, di seluruh bumi, ratusan kṣatriya telah muncul kembali.”
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.