Shloka 84
Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya
Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages
यदि मामभिरक्षन्ति तत: स्थास्यामि निश्चला
yadi mām abhirakṣanti tataḥ sthāsyāmi niścalā | yadi ve kṣatriyā me rakṣāṃ kurvanti tarhi aham avicala-bhāvena sthirā bhaviṣyāmi | ime caite durbhāgyāḥ pitaraiḥ pitāmahaiś ca mamaiva kṛte yuddhe anāyāsena mahā-karmā paraśurāmeṇa hatāḥ ||
Vāsudeva berkata: “Jika mereka melindungiku, maka aku akan tetap teguh dan tak tergoyahkan. Jika para kṣatriya ini sungguh mengambil tanggung jawab atas perlindunganku, aku dapat berdiri mantap tanpa goyah. Namun ayah dan kakek mereka yang malang, demi aku semata, telah gugur di medan perang oleh Paraśurāma—yang melakukan karya agung itu seakan tanpa susah payah.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of protection (rakṣā) as a kṣatriya duty: true guardianship stabilizes the vulnerable, yet past violence—especially done ‘for one’s sake’—creates moral debt and compassion for those bound by inherited conflict.
Vāsudeva speaks about being able to remain steadfast if the kṣatriyas protect him, while recalling that these warriors’ ancestors were earlier slain by Paraśurāma in wars connected to his own cause—bringing a note of pity and ethical reflection into the situation.