Shloka 71

Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya

Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages

Devanagari script

विपर्ययेण तेनाशु प्रविवेश रसातलम्‌ । अरक्ष्यमाणा विधिवत क्षत्रियैर्धर्मरक्षिभि:,कालक्रमसे दुरात्मा मनुष्य अपने अत्याचारोंसे पृथ्वीको पीड़ित करने लगे। इस उलट- फेरसे पृथ्वी शीघ्र ही रसातलमें प्रवेश करने लगी; क्योंकि उस समय धर्मरक्षक क्षत्रियोंद्वारा विधिपूर्वक पृथिवीकी रक्षा नहीं की जा रही थी

Transliteration

viparyayeṇa tenāśu praviveśa rasātalam | arakṣyamāṇā vidhivat kṣatriyair dharmarakṣibhiḥ ||

Translation

ആ ക്രമവിപരീതത്വം മൂലം ഭൂമി വേഗത്തിൽ രസാതലത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി; കാരണം ധർമ്മരക്ഷകരായ ക്ഷത്രിയർ വിധിപൂർവ്വം അവളെ കാത്തിരുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'viparyaya', 'definition': 'reversal, inversion, disorder (of proper order/dharma)'}, {'term': 'tena', 'definition': 'by that

• because of that (cause previously described)'}, {'term': 'āśu', 'definition': 'quickly, swiftly'}, {'term': 'praviveśa', 'definition': 'entered

• sank into'}, {'term': 'rasātala', 'definition': 'Rasātala, a netherworld/underworld region'}, {'term': 'arakṣyamāṇā', 'definition': 'not being protected (present passive participle)'}, {'term': 'vidhivat', 'definition': 'according to rule

• in the prescribed manner'}, {'term': 'kṣatriyaiḥ', 'definition': 'by kṣatriyas (warrior-rulers)'}, {'term': 'dharmarakṣibhiḥ', 'definition': 'by protectors/guardians of dharma'}]

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (speaker)
• Pṛthivī (the Earth)
• Rasātala
• Kṣatriyas (dharma-guardians)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When rulers fail to uphold and protect dharma in the prescribed way, disorder (viparyaya) spreads and even the Earth is portrayed as suffering cosmic decline—symbolizing the grave ethical consequences of neglected kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva explains that due to a reversal of proper order, the Earth begins to sink into Rasātala because the kṣatriyas—whose role is to guard dharma—are not protecting her according to rule.