Shloka 19
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
राम राम निवर्तस्व कं गुणं तात पश्यसि । क्षत्रबन्धूनिमान् प्राणैर्विप्रयोज्य पुन: पुन:,“बेटा! परशुराम! इस हत्याके कामसे निवृत्त हो जाओ। परशुराम! भला बारंबार इन बेचारे क्षत्रियोंके प्राण लेनेमें तुम्हें कौन-सा लाभ दिखायी देता है?”
rāma rāma nivartasva kaṃ guṇaṃ tāta paśyasi | kṣatrabandhūn imān prāṇair viprayojya punaḥ punaḥ ||
The Ocean said: “Rāma, Rāma—desist. Dear child, what ‘good’ do you see in this? What benefit can there be in repeatedly tearing away the lives of these wretched kṣatriyas? Turn back from this work of slaughter.”
समुद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one believes oneself justified, repeated violence hardens into a habit of slaughter; dharma calls for restraint and reflection on the true ‘benefit’ (guṇa) of one’s actions. The verse frames killing as a moral loss rather than a gain, urging cessation and self-control.
Samudra (the Ocean) addresses Paraśurāma, calling him ‘Rāma’ and urging him to stop his repeated killing of kṣatriyas. The Ocean questions what advantage Paraśurāma sees in continually depriving them of life, functioning as a moral check on his wrath-driven campaign.