Parashurama Enters with the Axe upon His Shoulder
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 265
Doha 268 · Movement 1 of 2
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The women of Mithila scold the kings as turmoil spreads. Then news of Shiva's broken bow brings Parashurama into the pavilion. At his appearance, rulers who were shouting moments earlier shrink like quails beneath a descending hawk.
Sacred ash gleams upon his fair body, and a tripundra spans his broad forehead beneath matted locks. His moon-like face is flushed with anger. Knotted brows and crimson eyes make even his natural gaze seem wrathful.
Bull-like shoulders support an immense chest and arms. Sacred thread, garland, and deerskin mark the ascetic; two quivers, bow, arrows, and the bright axe mark the warrior. Sage and avenger occupy one formidable form as he steps among the kings and sees the broken weapon of his Lord.
Ash, matted locks, bow, and axe enter together, and the boasting kings disappear into silence.
Read the passage from the Manas
खरभरु देखि बिकल पुर नारीं। सब मिलि देहिं महीपन्ह गारीं।। तेहिं अवसर सुनि सिव धनु भंगा। आयसु भृगुकुल कमल पतंगा।। देखि महीप सकल सकुचाने। बाज झपट जनु लवा लुकाने।। गौरि सरीर भूति भल भ्राजा। भाल बिसाल त्रिपुंड बिराजा।। सीस जटा ससिबदनु सुहावा। रिसबस कछुक अरुन होइ आवा।। भृकुटी कुटिल नयन रिस राते। सहजहुँ चितवत मनहुँ रिसाते।। बृषभ कंध उर बाहु बिसाला। चारु जनेउ माल मृगछाला।। कटि मुनि बसन तून दुइ बाँधें। धनु सर कर कुठारु कल काँधें।।
Seeing the commotion, the women of the city grew distressed. Together they scolded the assembled kings. At that very moment, hearing that Shiva's bow had been broken, he arrived: the sun that scorches the lotus-garden of the Bhrigu clan. Seeing him, every king shrank back in fear, like a flock of quails hiding when the hawk swoops down. Sacred ash gleamed upon his fair body. A broad tripundra adorned his wide forehead. Matted locks crowned his head; his moon-bright face was lovely, though now flushed red with anger. His brows were knitted, his eyes crimson with rage. Even his natural gaze seemed to blaze with wrath. His shoulders were like a bull's, his chest and arms immense, graced by a sacred thread, a garland, and a deerskin. Around his waist he wore a sage's cloth with two quivers fastened. In his hand he held a bow and arrows, and on his shoulder rested a gleaming axe.