Shloka 61
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
'भुगुनन्दन परशुराम! जहाँ पूर्वकालमें अपने पिताको अंजलि-दान देकर आपने आत्मशुद्धिका अनुभव किया था, वहीं मैं भी आपको मारकर आत्मशुद्धि करूँगा ।। तत्र राम समागच्छ त्वरितं युद्धदुर्मद । व्यपनेष्यामि ते दर्प पौराणं ब्राह्मणब्रुव,“ब्राह्मण कहलानेवाले रणदुर्मद राम! आप तुरंत कुरुक्षेत्रमें पधारिये। मैं वहीं आकर आपके पुरातन दर्पका दलन करूँगा'
bhṛgunandana paraśurāma! yatra pūrvakāle svapitaraṃ añjali-dānaṃ kṛtvā tvayā ātmaśuddhir anubhūtā, tatraiva aham api tvāṃ hatvā ātmaśuddhiṃ kariṣyāmi. tatra rāma samāgaccha tvaritaṃ yuddha-durmada. vyapaneṣyāmi te darpaṃ paurāṇaṃ brāhmaṇa-bruva.
“O descendant of Bhṛgu, Paraśurāma! In the very place where, long ago, you felt inner purification after offering a libation with joined palms to your father, there I too will attain purification—by slaying you. Come there at once, O Rāma, intoxicated with battle. I shall crush your ancient arrogance, you who merely claim the name of a brāhmaṇa.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere religious status with ethical conduct: pride and violent self-justification are condemned through the taunt “brāhmaṇa-bruva,” implying that true brahminhood is defined by restraint and virtue, not by lineage or claims. It also shows how the language of ‘purification’ can be invoked to rationalize aggression, inviting reflection on dharma versus personal vendetta.
Rāma issues a direct challenge to Paraśurāma, summoning him to Kurukṣetra for combat. He recalls a past episode associated with Paraśurāma’s ritual offering to his father and declares that he will achieve his own ‘purification’ by killing Paraśurāma there, while promising to shatter Paraśurāma’s long-held arrogance.