Parashurama Calls Lakshmana a Stain upon the Solar Line
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 271
Doha 274 · Movement 1 of 2
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Parashurama turns to Vishwamitra and denounces the youth as crooked, foolish, seized by fate, and destined to ruin his own house. Lakshmana is a dark stain upon the moon of the solar dynasty, unruly and without fear.
Death will consume him in an instant, the sage declares. If Kaushika wishes to save the boy, he must restrain him and explain the might, strength, and fury standing before him.
Lakshmana answers that no one could describe Parashurama's fame better than Parashurama himself. The sage has repeated his deeds often; if still unsatisfied, he should continue rather than suffer by holding anger in. A vowed hero, steady and unshaken, gains no splendour from abuse. Every taunt returns the sage's own self-image as a mirror.
The more Parashurama proclaims his greatness, the more Lakshmana offers him the floor to continue.
Read the passage from the Manas
कौसिक सुनहु मंद यहु बालकु। कुटिल कालबस निज कुल घालकु।। भानु बंस राकेस कलंकू। निपट निरंकुस अबुध असंकू।। काल कवलु होइहि छन माहीं। कहउँ पुकारि खोरि मोहि नाहीं।। तुम्ह हटकउ जौं चहहु उबारा। कहि प्रतापु बलु रोषु हमारा।। लखन कहेउ मुनि सुजस तुम्हारा। तुम्हहि अछत को बरनै पारा।। अपने मुँह तुम्ह आपनि करनी। बार अनेक भाँति बहु बरनी।। नहिं संतोषु त पुनि कछु कहहू। जनि रिस रोकि दुसह दुख सहहू।। बीरब्रती तुम्ह धीर अछोभा। गारी देत न पावहु सोभा।।
Listen, Kaushika! This boy is wicked and dull. He is in the grip of fate and will bring ruin upon his own clan. He is a blot on the solar dynasty, like a dark mark upon the full moon. He is utterly unruly, witless, and without fear. In a single moment he will become a morsel for death. I declare it openly; there is no fault in me. If you wish to save him, restrain him. Tell him of our might, our strength, and our fury. Lakshmana replied: 'O sage, your fame is well known. While you yourself are present, who else could do it justice?' With your own mouth, you have described your own deeds again and again, in many ways and many forms. If you are still not satisfied, then please, say more. Do not hold back your anger and suffer needless pain. You are a hero by vow, steady and unshakeable. Hurling abuses does not become you.