Parashurama Describes His Sacrifice of Kings
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 280
Doha 283 · Movement 1 of 2
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Do not mistake me for an ordinary Brahmin, Parashurama says. His bow is a sacrificial ladle, arrows are offerings, and wrath is the terrible fire into which they fall.
Fourfold armies become fuel. Mighty kings arrive as sacrificial animals, cut down by the axe and offered through millions of battle rites. Ram, he claims, does not know this power and has grown proud after breaking one bow.
Ram asks him to consider the scale of things. The sage's anger is vast; the brothers' fault is slight. Pinaka was ancient and broke at a touch, leaving no cause for pride. Parashurama builds an altar from war; Ram answers by making the celebrated deed almost nothing.
The sage offers kingdoms into wrath, while Ram refuses to offer even one act into pride.
Read the passage from the Manas
निपटहिं द्विज करि जानहि मोही। मैं जस बिप्र सुनावउँ तोही।। चाप स्त्रुवा सर आहुति जानू। कोप मोर अति घोर कृसानु।। समिधि सेन चतुरंग सुहाई। महा महीप भए पसु आई।। मै एहि परसु काटि बलि दीन्हे। समर जग्य जप कोटिन्ह कीन्हे।। मोर प्रभाउ बिदित नहिं तोरें। बोलसि निदरि बिप्र के भोरें।। भंजेउ चापु दापु बड़ बाढ़ा। अहमिति मनहुँ जीति जगु ठाढ़ा।। राम कहा मुनि कहहु बिचारी। रिस अति बड़ि लघु चूक हमारी।। छुअतहिं टूट पिनाक पुराना। मैं कहि हेतु करौं अभिमाना।।
You think me an ordinary Brahmin? Let me tell You what kind of Brahmin I truly am. Know this: my bow is the sacrificial ladle (struva), my arrows are the oblations, and my wrath is the most terrible sacred fire. The splendid fourfold army serves as kindling, and mighty kings have come as sacrificial animals. With this very axe I have cut them down and offered them in sacrifice; millions upon millions of battle-sacrifices I have performed. You do not know my power, yet You speak lightly before this Brahmin. You broke the bow and now Your pride has swelled, as though You have conquered and stand over the whole world. Rama replied: O sage, please reflect carefully. Your anger is very great, while our error is very small. The ancient bow of Pinaaka broke at the merest touch. What cause do I have to feel pride in that?