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 ||
Then, taking up his axe, Rāma swiftly hewed down that thousand-armed foe, as one would fell a many-branched tree. The verse underscores the decisive curbing of overwhelming, violent power when it stands opposed to rightful order—strength is shown not in excess, but in the timely restraint of excess.
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.