Raama of the battle-axe Part-2

The sons of Jamadagni and Dasharatha

The sages offered prayers and arghya to the fiery form that held a battle-axe. Then Raama who was Jamadagni’s son spoke to Raama who was Dasharatha’s son... He expressed his wonderment at the breaking of the bow of Shiva, the Pinaka... appreciated Raama’s prowess, and revealed the purpose of seeking him out. Parashuraama was in custody of an equally powerful divine bow, which he wanted Raama to string and affix a bow. If Raama were to accomplish the feat, Parashuraama promised to grant him a duel.

Dasharatha, terrified for his son, begged Parashuraama to treat his son as a child. Parashuraama ignoring Dasharatha, went on to relate the story of the two mighty bows crafted by Vishwakarma. When Rudra and Vishnu set out to establish the supremacy of their respective bows, Vishnu’s yawn and “humkaara”* rendered the Pinaka powerless. An angry Shiva handed over his bow to Rajarishi Devavrata from Videha (which eventually came into the possession of the present Janaka, and was duly broken by Raama), and Vishnu handed over his bow to Richika Bhargava**, who was Parashuraama’s grandfa her. Then he handed the powerful Vaishnava bow to Raama. Raama declared that he was not to be slighted and strung the bow with ease. He refused to shoot an arrow and instead chose to dissipate the energy and valour of Parashuraama.

*powerful exhalation

**Parashuraama is also called Bhargava Raama or just Bhargava.

This momentous episode was witnessed by the gods, gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas, asuras, kinnaras, naagas...from the skies. Bereft of his anger and pride, Parashuraama acknowledged the greatness of Dasharatha Raama, and requested him to release the arrow. When the arrow was released, the darkness that had fallen upon the land and the people was dispelled. Parashuraama exhorted Raama to use the bow to vanquish evil and circumambulating him, went his way.

Thus ends the extraordinary meeting of the two Raamas. It is to be understood that the two avataaras of Vishnu, acting like regular people while on Earth, this ‘clash of the titans’ and the so called victory of one over the other, were part of divine leele, just like the meeting between Hanuman and Bheema*, and the so called acceptance of defeat by Bheema.

While the role of Parashuraama ended in the Raamayana, he along with two others, Hanuman and Jambavantha featured in the Dwaapara Yuga, as well.

Parashuraama in Mahabhaaratha

While Parashuraama was no longer involved in the direct annihilation of Kshatriyas in the Dwaapara Yuga, he accomplished the same, by imparting training in shastra to the venerable Bheeshma*, to the undefeatable Dronacharya (who in turn imparted this knowledge to the Kuru princes), and to the valorous Karna**. Thus he armed the best warriors of the time, to battle and kill.

The presence of Parashuraama in Dwaapara Yuga has been explicitly mentioned on these two occasions: At the Rajasuya Yaaga performed by Yudhishtira, which was graced by two other avataaras of Vishnu...Krishna and Veda Vyaasa. At the conciliatory meeting at Dhritrashtra’s palace when Krishna played the messenger of peace, eventually displaying his terrifying Viraata rupa, when Duryodhana tried to have him captured.

*in addition to teaching shaastra and dharma; which another avataara of Vishnu, Krishna, ensured was not lost to the world by compelling Yudishtira to seek the counsel of Bheeshmacharya lying on his bed of arrows awaiting uttaraayana in order to give up his body. Bheeshmacharya, described as “Gnyaanada Surya”, imparted the knowledge of Raja dharma to Yudishtira and also venerated Krishna with what we know today as the “Vishnu Sahasranaama”.

**Karna pretended to be a Brahmin in order to learn archery and other war crafts from Parashuraama. A pleased Parashuraama taught him well. At the fag end of his discipleship, when Parashuraama rested on Karna’s lap, Karna bore the bite of an insect stoically, in order not to disturb his master.

When the hot blood flowing out of Karna’s thigh came in contact with Parashuraama, he awoke and declared that no Brahmin would have borne such pain in silence. He forced a confession out of Karna. And in one of the most defining moments of the epic, Parashuraama cursed Karna that when he was in the greatest need of astras his memory would fail him.