Shloka 246
दम्भोद्धवो युद्धमिच्छन्नाह्वयत्येव तापसौ । परशुरामजी कहते हैं--भारत! उन दोनों महात्माओंने बारंबार ऐसा कहकर राजासे क्षमा माँगी और उन्हें विविध प्रकारसे सान्त्वना दी। तथापि दम्भोद्धव युद्धकी इच्छासे उन दोनों तापसोंको कहते और ललकारते ही रहे
dambhoddhavo yuddham icchann āhvayaty eva tāpasau |
परशुराम उवाच—दम्भोद्धवो युद्धकामः तौ तापसौ एव आह्वयन् ललकार च। तौ तु महात्मानौ पुनः पुनः तथा उक्त्वा राजानं क्षमापयामासतुः, नानाविधैश्च सान्त्वनैः तं समाश्वासयामासतुः; तथापि स दम्भोद्धवो युद्धेच्छया तौ तापसौ निरन्तरं आह्वयति स्म।
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical contrast: ascetics embody restraint, apology, and reconciliation, while a pride-driven warrior-mindset seeks escalation. It implicitly commends kṣamā (forgiveness) and śama (self-control) over dambha (arrogant aggression).
Paraśurāma narrates that two sages repeatedly asked the king’s pardon and tried to soothe him, yet Dambhoddhava—eager for combat—continued to challenge and provoke them, refusing to let the situation de-escalate.