Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
राम: सञ्चोदित: पित्रा भ्रातृन् मात्रा सहावधीत् । प्रभावज्ञो मुने: सम्यक् समाधेस्तपसश्च स: ॥ ६ ॥
rāmaḥ sañcoditaḥ pitrā bhrātṝn mātrā sahāvadhīt prabhāva-jño muneḥ samyak samādhes tapasaś ca saḥ
ជមដគ្នីមុនីបានបញ្ជាឲ្យ រាម (បរាសុរាម) សម្លាប់បងប្អូនដែលមិនគោរពព្រះបន្ទូល និងមាតាដែលបានប្រព្រឹត្តអសុចរិតក្នុងចិត្ត។ ដោយដឹងអานุភាពតបៈ និងសមាធិរបស់បិតា ព្រះបរាសុរាមបានសម្លាប់មាតា និងបងប្អូនភ្លាមៗ។
The word prabhāva-jñaḥ is significant. Paraśurāma knew the prowess of his father, and therefore he agreed to carry out his father’s order. He thought that if he refused to carry out the order he would be cursed, but if he carried it out his father would be pleased, and when his father was pleased, Paraśurāma would ask the benediction of having his mother and brothers brought back to life. Paraśurāma was confident in this regard, and therefore he agreed to kill his mother and brothers.
This verse highlights that a sage’s true influence comes from perfected samādhi and austerity, a spiritual potency that a discerning person recognizes even amid severe events.
In this episode, Rāma follows his father’s order, reflecting the narrative’s tension between obedience to authority and the grave consequences of actions within a dharma-testing situation.
It points to the importance of recognizing genuine spiritual strength—self-control, discipline, and deep inner focus—rather than judging only by external power or emotion.