Fascinating encounter between Lord Parashurama and Lord Rama in Valmiki Ramayana - Part 1 of 2
Recently I read about the fascinating encounter between Lord Parashurama, regarded as the sixth Avatar of Vishnu, and Lord Rama, the seventh Avatar of Vishnu, in Kamala Subramaniam's Ramayana (Abridged English version).
Lord Parushurama, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashurama, was born in a Brahmin (priestly) family of Rishi/Sage Jamadagni and Renuka, who lived in a hut (and so implies a simple rishi family life). But Parashurama is viewed as carrying traits of Kshatriya (warrior).
A Kshatriya prince forcibly takes away a miraculous wish-fulfilling (Kamadhenu) cow (called Surabhi) from Sage Jamadagni at which time Parashurama is away. When Parashurama comes to know of it, he challenges the king to battle with an axe (Parashu word in Sanskrit seems to mean axe). The king is killed by Parashurama. Later other warriors of the Kshatriya class fight with Parashurama and all these warriors get killed by him.
Sage Jamadagni reprimands Parashurama for these killings saying that a Brahmin should never kill a king. He asks Parashurama to expiate for his sins of these killings by going on pilgrimage, which Parashurama obeys.
When Parashurama returns from pilgrimage, he is told that his father Sage Jamadagni was killed by Kshatriyas (warrior class) as revenge (for Parashurama's killings). Parashurama again kills many Kshatriyas with his axe.
At the time Parashurama has this encounter with Rama, Parashurama has stopped his killings of Kshatriyas and retired to the forests and a mountain. So his anger against Kshatriyas is said to have abated.
Valmiki Ramayan Sanskrit text with English translation as provided by https://www.valmikiramayan.net/, covers the encounter in these three pages (sargas/chapters 74, 75 and 76): https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga74/bala_74_frame.htm, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga75/bala_75_frame.htm and
https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga76/bala_76_frame.htm .
Lord Parashurama tells Lord Rama that he has heard about his exploits of killing Tataka demoness and of breaking Lord Shiva's bow. [Verse: 1-75-1]
Parashurama tells Rama that the bow he (Parashurama) has is a great bow of Lord Vishnu (which was made at the same time Lord Shiva's bow was made) and that he (Rama) should take this bow, string an arrow on it, with the bowstring strung right up to his ear, thereby showing his capability. [Verse: 1-75-3]
And that if he (Rama) is able to demonstrate his strength, then Rama will be considered (by him) as a valarous person and so Parashurama will provide him combat (duel with him). [Verse: 1-75-4]
[Ravi: In the days of Lords Parashurama and Rama, it is the bow & arrow that was the primary weapon of the warriors. So Parashurama wants to battle with the new hero, Lord Rama, and see who is greater as a warrior, himself or Lord Rama!]
King Dasharatha becomes very worried on hearing this. He pleads with Lord Parashurama that he is a Brahmin of great asceticism and that his (Parashurama's) fury against Kshatriyas had abated long back. Dasharatha says that it will be more apt of Lord Parashurama to grant fearlessness (from him) to his sons who are still young. [Verse: 1-75-6]
Lord Parashurama ignores the pleas of King Dasharatha. He tells Lord Rama about the history of the two great bows of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva's bow was the one that Rama broke at King Janaka's court.
Lord Parashurama tells Rama that the bow that Lord Vishnu had was given to his ancestors which got passed on eventually to him.
Parashurama says: On hearing about the breaking of Lord Shiva's great bow, I came here promptly. So Rama, wield this great bow of Lord Vishnu that has been passed down to me by my forefathers and my father. Show your loyalty to Kshatriya dharma (warrior conduct) and wield this great bow of Lord Vishnu. [Verse: 1-75-26b, 1-75-27]
Parashurama continues: Wield this great bow with an enemy citadel conquering arrow, and if you are capable of doing that, then I will have a duel (battle) with you. [Verse: 1-75-28]
----
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Rama Katha Rasavahini covers this encounter and that part can be read online here: http://www.sssbpt.info/vahinis/RamakathaI/Ramakatha1-08.pdf.
[I thank valmikiramayan.net and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me referencing the above pages from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
Lord Parushurama, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashurama, was born in a Brahmin (priestly) family of Rishi/Sage Jamadagni and Renuka, who lived in a hut (and so implies a simple rishi family life). But Parashurama is viewed as carrying traits of Kshatriya (warrior).
A Kshatriya prince forcibly takes away a miraculous wish-fulfilling (Kamadhenu) cow (called Surabhi) from Sage Jamadagni at which time Parashurama is away. When Parashurama comes to know of it, he challenges the king to battle with an axe (Parashu word in Sanskrit seems to mean axe). The king is killed by Parashurama. Later other warriors of the Kshatriya class fight with Parashurama and all these warriors get killed by him.
Sage Jamadagni reprimands Parashurama for these killings saying that a Brahmin should never kill a king. He asks Parashurama to expiate for his sins of these killings by going on pilgrimage, which Parashurama obeys.
When Parashurama returns from pilgrimage, he is told that his father Sage Jamadagni was killed by Kshatriyas (warrior class) as revenge (for Parashurama's killings). Parashurama again kills many Kshatriyas with his axe.
At the time Parashurama has this encounter with Rama, Parashurama has stopped his killings of Kshatriyas and retired to the forests and a mountain. So his anger against Kshatriyas is said to have abated.
Valmiki Ramayan Sanskrit text with English translation as provided by https://www.valmikiramayan.net/, covers the encounter in these three pages (sargas/chapters 74, 75 and 76): https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga74/bala_74_frame.htm, https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga75/bala_75_frame.htm and
https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga76/bala_76_frame.htm .
Lord Parashurama tells Lord Rama that he has heard about his exploits of killing Tataka demoness and of breaking Lord Shiva's bow. [Verse: 1-75-1]
Parashurama tells Rama that the bow he (Parashurama) has is a great bow of Lord Vishnu (which was made at the same time Lord Shiva's bow was made) and that he (Rama) should take this bow, string an arrow on it, with the bowstring strung right up to his ear, thereby showing his capability. [Verse: 1-75-3]
And that if he (Rama) is able to demonstrate his strength, then Rama will be considered (by him) as a valarous person and so Parashurama will provide him combat (duel with him). [Verse: 1-75-4]
[Ravi: In the days of Lords Parashurama and Rama, it is the bow & arrow that was the primary weapon of the warriors. So Parashurama wants to battle with the new hero, Lord Rama, and see who is greater as a warrior, himself or Lord Rama!]
King Dasharatha becomes very worried on hearing this. He pleads with Lord Parashurama that he is a Brahmin of great asceticism and that his (Parashurama's) fury against Kshatriyas had abated long back. Dasharatha says that it will be more apt of Lord Parashurama to grant fearlessness (from him) to his sons who are still young. [Verse: 1-75-6]
Lord Parashurama ignores the pleas of King Dasharatha. He tells Lord Rama about the history of the two great bows of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva's bow was the one that Rama broke at King Janaka's court.
Lord Parashurama tells Rama that the bow that Lord Vishnu had was given to his ancestors which got passed on eventually to him.
Parashurama says: On hearing about the breaking of Lord Shiva's great bow, I came here promptly. So Rama, wield this great bow of Lord Vishnu that has been passed down to me by my forefathers and my father. Show your loyalty to Kshatriya dharma (warrior conduct) and wield this great bow of Lord Vishnu. [Verse: 1-75-26b, 1-75-27]
Parashurama continues: Wield this great bow with an enemy citadel conquering arrow, and if you are capable of doing that, then I will have a duel (battle) with you. [Verse: 1-75-28]
----
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Rama Katha Rasavahini covers this encounter and that part can be read online here: http://www.sssbpt.info/vahinis/RamakathaI/Ramakatha1-08.pdf.
[I thank valmikiramayan.net and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me referencing the above pages from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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