Shloka 57
Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya
Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages
परावसुर्महाराज क्षिप्त्वा55ह जनसंसदि । ये ते ययातिपतने यज्ञे सन्त: समागता:
parāvasur mahārāja kṣiptvā ha jana-saṁsadi | ye te yayāti-patane yajñe santaḥ samāgatāḥ ||
Vāsudeva berkata: “Wahai raja agung, Parāvasu, setelah melemparkan celaan di hadapan perhimpunan rakyat, mengisytiharkan: ‘Rāma! Ketika Raja Yayāti jatuh dari syurga, bukankah orang-orang berbudi seperti Pratardana dan yang lain yang berhimpun dalam korban itu adalah kṣatriya? Sumpahmu dusta. Engkau bermegah sia-sia di hadapan rakyat, berkata, “Aku telah menghapuskan kṣatriya.” Aku menyangka engkau berlindung di gunung kerana takut akan wira kṣatriya. Bahkan sekarang, di seluruh bumi, ratusan kṣatriya kembali memenuhi tanah!’”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage critiques empty boasting and tests the integrity of vows: public claims must align with reality, and ethical authority is undermined when one’s pledge is shown to be exaggerated or false.
In an assembly, Parāvasu challenges Rāma (Paraśurāma) by citing earlier Kṣatriyas present at Yayāti’s sacrificial gathering, arguing that Kṣatriyas still existed and have reappeared, thus portraying Rāma’s claim of exterminating them as untrue and motivated by fear.