The Origin of Parashurama

Verse 1 (skanda.6.166.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ ऋचीकोऽपि समादाय पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः ॥ तानश्वान्प्रजगामाथ यत्र गाधिर्व्यवस्थितः

sūta uvāca ṛcīko'pi samādāya puruṣairāptakāribhiḥ tānaśvānprajagāmātha yatra gādhirvyavasthitaḥ

Suta said: Richika too, taking those horses along with trustworthy men, then went to where Gadhi was.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.166.2)

तस्मै निवेदयामास कन्यार्थं तान्हयोत्तमान् ॥ गाधिस्तु तान्प्रगृह्याथ योग्यान्वाजिमखस्य च

tasmai nivedayāmāsa kanyārthaṁ tānhayottamān gādhistu tānpragṛhyātha yogyānvājimakhasya ca

He presented those excellent horses to him in exchange for his daughter; and Gadhi, accepting them as fit for the horse-sacrifice,

Verse 3 (skanda.6.166.3)

एकैकं परमं तेषां स जगामाथ पार्थिवः ॥ ततस्तां प्रददौ तस्मै कन्यां त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरीम्

ekaikaṁ paramaṁ teṣāṁ sa jagāmātha pārthivaḥ tatastāṁ pradadau tasmai kanyāṁ trailokyasundarīm

the king went and examined each one, finding them excellent; then he gave to him that daughter, the most beautiful in the three worlds.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.166.4)

विप्राग्निसाक्षिसंभूतां गृह्योक्तविधिनान्वितः ॥ ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्त ऋचीको मुनिसत्तमः

viprāgnisākṣisaṁbhūtāṁ gṛhyoktavidhinānvitaḥ tato vivāhe nirvṛtta ṛcīko munisattamaḥ

Following the procedure declared in the household rites, with brahmins and fire as witnesses, Richika, best of sages, was thus joined to her in marriage.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.166.5)

तस्याः संवेशने चैव निष्कामः समपद्यत ॥ अथाब्रवीन्निजां भार्यां निष्कामः संस्थितो मुनिः

tasyāḥ saṁveśane caiva niṣkāmaḥ samapadyata athābravīnnijāṁ bhāryāṁ niṣkāmaḥ saṁsthito muniḥ

Even in her chamber, he remained free of desire; then, abiding in that dispassion, the sage spoke to his own wife:

Verse 6 (skanda.6.166.6)

अहं यास्यामि सुश्रोणि काननं तपसः कृते ॥ त्वं प्रार्थय वरं कंचिद्येनाभीष्टं ददामि ते

ahaṁ yāsyāmi suśroṇi kānanaṁ tapasaḥ kṛte tvaṁ prārthaya varaṁ kaṁcidyenābhīṣṭaṁ dadāmi te

'O fair one, I shall go to the forest for the sake of austerity; ask for some boon, that I may grant you what you desire.'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.166.7)

सा श्रुत्वा तस्य तद्वाक्यं निष्कामस्य प्रजल्पितम् ॥ वाष्पपूर्णेक्षणा दीना जगाम जननीं प्रति

sā śrutvā tasya tadvākyaṁ niṣkāmasya prajalpitam vāṣpapūrṇekṣaṇā dīnā jagāma jananīṁ prati

Hearing this word spoken by the dispassionate sage, she, wretched, her eyes brimming with tears, went to her mother.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.166.8)

प्रोवाच वचनं तस्य सा निष्कामपतेस्तदा ॥ वरदानं तथा तेन यथोक्तं द्विजसत्तमाः

provāca vacanaṁ tasya sā niṣkāmapatestadā varadānaṁ tathā tena yathoktaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

She then related, O best of brahmins, the words of her dispassionate husband, and the boon as he had declared it.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.166.9)

अथ श्रुत्वैव सा माता यथा तज्जल्पितं तया ॥ सुतया ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठास्ततो वचनमब्रवीत्

atha śrutvaiva sā mātā yathā tajjalpitaṁ tayā sutayā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāstato vacanamabravīt

Then, upon hearing exactly what her daughter had told her, O best of brahmins, the mother spoke these words:

Verse 10 (skanda.6.166.10)

यद्ययं पुत्रि ते भर्ता वरं यच्छति वांछितम् ॥ तत्प्रार्थय सुतं तस्माद्ब्राह्मण्येन समन्वितम्

yadyayaṁ putri te bhartā varaṁ yacchati vāṁchitam tatprārthaya sutaṁ tasmādbrāhmaṇyena samanvitam

'If, my daughter, this husband of yours grants you your chosen boon, then ask of him a son endowed with brahminhood.'

Verse 11 (skanda.6.166.11)

मदर्थं चैकपुत्रं च निःशेषक्षात्त्रतेजसा ॥ संयुक्तं याचय शुभे विपुत्राऽहं यतः स्थिता

madarthaṁ caikaputraṁ ca niḥśeṣakṣāttratejasā saṁyuktaṁ yācaya śubhe viputrā'haṁ yataḥ sthitā

'And for my sake too, O auspicious one, ask for one son wholly endowed with kshatriya splendour, since I remain without a son.'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.166.12)

सा श्रुत्वा जननीवाक्यमृचीकं प्राप्य सुव्रता ॥ अब्रवीज्जननी वाक्यं सर्वं विस्तरतो द्विजाः

sā śrutvā jananīvākyamṛcīkaṁ prāpya suvratā abravījjananī vākyaṁ sarvaṁ vistarato dvijāḥ

O brahmins, hearing her mother's words, that woman of good vows went to Richika and related her mother's words to him in full detail.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.166.13)

स तस्याश्च वचः श्रुत्वा चकाराथ चरुद्वयम् ॥ पुत्रेष्टिं विधिवत्कृत्वा नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवम्

sa tasyāśca vacaḥ śrutvā cakārātha carudvayam putreṣṭiṁ vidhivatkṛtvā namaskṛtya svayaṁbhuvam

Hearing her words, he then prepared two sacrificial cakes, having duly performed the Putreshti rite and offered homage to the Self-born Brahma.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.166.14)

एकस्मिन्योजयामास ब्राह्म्यं तेजोऽखिलं च सः ॥ क्षात्रं तेजस्तथान्यस्मिन्सकलं द्विजसत्तमाः

ekasminyojayāmāsa brāhmyaṁ tejo'khilaṁ ca saḥ kṣātraṁ tejastathānyasminsakalaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, into one he infused the entire brahminical splendour, and into the other, the entire kshatriya splendour.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.166.15)

भार्यायै प्रददौ पूर्वं ब्राह्म्यं च चरुमुत्तमम् ॥ अब्रवीत्प्राशयित्वैनमश्वत्थालिंगनं कुरु

bhāryāyai pradadau pūrvaṁ brāhmyaṁ ca carumuttamam abravītprāśayitvainamaśvatthāliṁganaṁ kuru

He first gave his wife the excellent brahminical cake, and said: 'Having eaten this, go embrace an ashvattha tree.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.166.16)

ततः प्राप्स्यसि सत्पुत्रं ब्राह्म्यतेजःसमन्वितम् ॥ द्वितीयश्चरुको यश्च तं त्वं मात्रे निवेदय

tataḥ prāpsyasi satputraṁ brāhmyatejaḥsamanvitam dvitīyaścaruko yaśca taṁ tvaṁ mātre nivedaya

'Thereby you shall obtain a fine son endowed with brahminical splendour. And the second cake — give that one to your mother.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.166.17)

अब्रवीच्च ततस्तां तु ऋचीको मुनिसत्तमः ॥ त्वमेनं चरुकं प्राश्य न्यग्रोधालिंगनं कुरु

abravīcca tatastāṁ tu ṛcīko munisattamaḥ tvamenaṁ carukaṁ prāśya nyagrodhāliṁganaṁ kuru

Richika, best of sages, further said to her: 'Having eaten this cake, embrace a banyan tree.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.166.18)

ततः प्राप्स्यसि सत्पुत्रं संयुक्तं क्षात्रतेजसा ॥ निःशेषेण महाभागे न मे स्याद्वचनं वृथा

tataḥ prāpsyasi satputraṁ saṁyuktaṁ kṣātratejasā niḥśeṣeṇa mahābhāge na me syādvacanaṁ vṛthā

'Thus you shall obtain a fine son wholly endowed with kshatriya splendour, O most fortunate one; my word shall never prove false.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.166.19)

एवमुक्त्वा ऋचीकस्तु स विसृज्य च तेजसी ॥ सुहृष्टो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः स्वयं च महितोऽभवत्

evamuktvā ṛcīkastu sa visṛjya ca tejasī suhṛṣṭo brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ svayaṁ ca mahito'bhavat

Having spoken thus, and having thereby dispensed the two splendours, Richika, that foremost brahmin, greatly rejoicing, himself grew ever more revered.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.166.20)

ते चैव तु गृहे गत्वा प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना ॥ ऊचतुश्च मिथस्ते च सत्यमेतद्भविष्यति

te caiva tu gṛhe gatvā prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā ūcatuśca mithaste ca satyametadbhaviṣyati

And the two of them, going home with joyful hearts, said to one another: 'This shall surely come to pass.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.166.21)

ततो माता सुतां प्राह आत्मार्थे सकलो जनः ॥ विशेषं कुरुते कृत्ये सामान्ये च व्यवस्थिते

tato mātā sutāṁ prāha ātmārthe sakalo janaḥ viśeṣaṁ kurute kṛtye sāmānye ca vyavasthite

Then the mother said to her daughter: 'Every person, in a matter touching their own self, shows a special partiality, even where the matter is held in common.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.166.22)

तत्तवार्थं कृतोऽनेन यश्चरुश्चारुलोचने ॥ यस्तस्मिन्विहितोऽनेन मन्त्रग्रामो भविष्यति ॥ विशेषेण महाभागे सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

tattavārthaṁ kṛto'nena yaścaruścārulocane yastasminvihito'nena mantragrāmo bhaviṣyati viśeṣeṇa mahābhāge satyametanmayoditam

'O lovely-eyed one, whatever assemblage of mantras he has placed in the cake made for your sake shall come to pass with special force, O most fortunate one; this truth I tell you.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.166.23)

तस्माच्च चरुकं मह्यं त्वं गृहाण शुचिस्मिते ॥ आत्मीयं मम यच्छस्व वृक्षाभ्यां च विपर्ययः ॥ क्रियतां च महाभागे येन मे स्यात्सुतोत्तमः

tasmācca carukaṁ mahyaṁ tvaṁ gṛhāṇa śucismite ātmīyaṁ mama yacchasva vṛkṣābhyāṁ ca viparyayaḥ kriyatāṁ ca mahābhāge yena me syātsutottamaḥ

'Therefore, O bright-smiling one, take for yourself the cake meant for me, and give me your own; and let the two trees also be exchanged, O most fortunate one, so that I too may have an excellent son.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.166.24)

राज्यकर्मणि दक्षश्च शूरः परबलार्दनः ॥ त्वदीयो द्विजमात्रोऽपि तव तुष्टिं करिष्यति

rājyakarmaṇi dakṣaśca śūraḥ parabalārdanaḥ tvadīyo dvijamātro'pi tava tuṣṭiṁ kariṣyati

'Skilled in the business of kingship, valiant, a crusher of the enemy's forces — even a mere brahmin son of yours shall bring you contentment.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.166.25)

अथ सा विजने प्रोक्ता तया मात्रा यशस्विनी ॥ अकरोद्व्यत्ययं वृक्षे चरौ च द्विजसत्तमाः

atha sā vijane proktā tayā mātrā yaśasvinī akarodvyatyayaṁ vṛkṣe carau ca dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, then that illustrious woman, being told this by her mother in private, exchanged both the cake and the tree.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.166.26)

ततः पुंसवने स्नाते ते शुभे चारुलोचने ॥ दधाते गर्भमेवाथ भर्तुः संयोगतः क्षणात्

tataḥ puṁsavane snāte te śubhe cārulocane dadhāte garbhamevātha bhartuḥ saṁyogataḥ kṣaṇāt

Then, having bathed for the pumsavana rite, those two auspicious, lovely-eyed women both conceived that very instant, through union with their husbands.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.166.27)

ततस्तु गर्भमासाद्य सा च त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी ॥ क्षात्त्रेण तेजसा युक्ता तत्क्षणात्समपद्यत ॥ मनो राज्ये ततश्चक्रे हस्त्यश्वारोहणोद्भवे

tatastu garbhamāsādya sā ca trailokyasundarī kṣāttreṇa tejasā yuktā tatkṣaṇātsamapadyata mano rājye tataścakre hastyaśvārohaṇodbhave

Then, having conceived, that Trailokyasundari became at that very instant imbued with kshatriya splendour, and her mind thereafter turned to kingship — to riding elephants and horses,

Verse 28 (skanda.6.166.28)

युद्धवार्त्तास्तथा चक्रे देवासुरगणोद्भवाः ॥ शृणोति च तथा नित्यं विलासेषु मनो दधे ॥ अनुष्ठानं ततश्चक्रे मनोराज्यसमुद्भवम्

yuddhavārttāstathā cakre devāsuragaṇodbhavāḥ śṛṇoti ca tathā nityaṁ vilāseṣu mano dadhe anuṣṭhānaṁ tataścakre manorājyasamudbhavam

and to tales of battle between the hosts of gods and demons, which she loved to hear; her mind also turned toward courtly pleasures, and she took up practices born of these royal fancies of hers.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.166.29)

पितुर्गृहात्समानीय जात्यानश्वांस्तथा गजान् ॥ रक्तानि चैव वस्त्राणि काश्मीराद्यं विलेपनम्

piturgṛhātsamānīya jātyānaśvāṁstathā gajān raktāni caiva vastrāṇi kāśmīrādyaṁ vilepanam

Bringing from her father's house thoroughbred horses and elephants, red garments, and unguents beginning with saffron,

Verse 30 (skanda.6.166.30)

तद्दृष्ट्वा चेष्टितं तस्या राज्यार्हं बहुभोगधृक् ॥ ब्राह्मणार्हैः परित्यक्तं समाचारैश्च कृत्स्नशः

taddṛṣṭvā ceṣṭitaṁ tasyā rājyārhaṁ bahubhogadhṛk brāhmaṇārhaiḥ parityaktaṁ samācāraiśca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Seeing her conduct — fit for royalty, given over to much enjoyment, and wholly abandoning the practices proper to a brahmin,

Verse 31 (skanda.6.166.31)

अब्रवीच्च ततः क्रुद्धो धिक्पापे किमिदं कृतम् ॥ व्यत्ययो विहितो नूनं चरुकस्य नगस्य च

abravīcca tataḥ kruddho dhikpāpe kimidaṁ kṛtam vyatyayo vihito nūnaṁ carukasya nagasya ca

he cried out in anger: 'Shame on you, sinful woman! What have you done? Surely the cake and the tree have been exchanged!'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.166.32)

त्वया पापे प्रपश्यामि येनेदृक्तव चेष्टितम् ॥ क्षत्रियार्हं द्विजाचारैः सकलैः परिवर्जितम्

tvayā pāpe prapaśyāmi yenedṛktava ceṣṭitam kṣatriyārhaṁ dvijācāraiḥ sakalaiḥ parivarjitam

'By this I see, sinful woman, that your conduct has become fit for a kshatriya, wholly stripped of every practice of the twice-born.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.166.33)

चीरवल्कलसंत्यक्तं स्नानजाप्यविवर्जितम् ॥ संयुक्तं विविधैर्गन्धैर्मृगनाभिपुरःसरैः

cīravalkalasaṁtyaktaṁ snānajāpyavivarjitam saṁyuktaṁ vividhairgandhairmṛganābhipuraḥsaraiḥ

'You have cast off bark-cloth and rags, given up bathing and japa, and taken to manifold perfumes, chief among them musk.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.166.34)

तव माता शमस्था सा जपहोमपरायणा ॥ तीर्थयात्रापरा चैव वेदश्रवणलालसा

tava mātā śamasthā sā japahomaparāyaṇā tīrthayātrāparā caiva vedaśravaṇalālasā

'Your mother, however, remains established in tranquillity, devoted to japa and fire-offerings, given to pilgrimage, and eager to hear the Vedas recited.'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.166.35)

तस्मात्ते क्षत्रियः पुत्रो भविष्यति न संशयः

tasmātte kṣatriyaḥ putro bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Therefore your son shall be a kshatriya, without any doubt.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.166.36)

मातुश्च ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो ब्रह्मचर्यकथापरः ॥ भविष्यति सुतश्चिह्नैर्गर्भलक्षणसंभवैः

mātuśca brāhmaṇaśreṣṭho brahmacaryakathāparaḥ bhaviṣyati sutaścihnairgarbhalakṣaṇasaṁbhavaiḥ

'And your mother's son shall be a foremost brahmin, devoted to discourse on brahmacharya — this, by the signs that arise from the marks of pregnancy.'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.166.37)

यस्मादुदीरितः पूर्वं श्लोकोऽयं शास्त्रचिन्तकैः ॥ यादृशा दोहदाः सन्ति सगर्भाणां च योषिताम्

yasmādudīritaḥ pūrvaṁ śloko'yaṁ śāstracintakaiḥ yādṛśā dohadāḥ santi sagarbhāṇāṁ ca yoṣitām

'For this very verse was spoken long ago by the scholars of scripture: Whatever cravings pregnant women feel —'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.166.38)

तादृगेव स्वभावेन तासां पुत्रोऽत्र जायते ॥ सैवमुक्ता भयत्रस्ता वेपमाना कृतांजलिः

tādṛgeva svabhāvena tāsāṁ putro'tra jāyate saivamuktā bhayatrastā vepamānā kṛtāṁjaliḥ

'— of just that same nature shall be the son born to them.' Thus addressed, she, terrified and trembling, with joined palms,

Verse 39 (skanda.6.166.39)

बाष्पपूर्णेक्षणा दीना वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥ सत्यमेतत्प्रभो वाक्यं यत्त्वया समुदाहृतम्

bāṣpapūrṇekṣaṇā dīnā vākyametaduvāca ha satyametatprabho vākyaṁ yattvayā samudāhṛtam

her eyes brimming with tears, wretched, spoke these words: 'True is this, my lord, which you have declared.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.166.40)

अतीतानागतं वेत्ति विना लिंगैर्भवानिह ॥ तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यथा स्याद्ब्राह्मणः सुतः ॥ क्षत्रियस्य तु पुत्रस्य भवान्नार्हः कथंचन

atītānāgataṁ vetti vinā liṁgairbhavāniha tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me yathā syādbrāhmaṇaḥ sutaḥ kṣatriyasya tu putrasya bhavānnārhaḥ kathaṁcana

'You know past and future here without need of any sign; therefore show me grace, that my son may be a brahmin — for you are in no way fit to have a kshatriya son.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.166.41)

॥ ऋचीक उवाच ॥ ॥ यत्किंचिद्ब्रह्मतेजः स्यात्तन्न्यस्तं ते चरौ मया ॥ क्षात्त्रं तेजश्च ते मातुर्व्यत्ययं च कथंचन ॥ करोमि वाधमो लोके शास्त्रस्य च व्यतिक्रमम्

ṛcīka uvāca yatkiṁcidbrahmatejaḥ syāttannyastaṁ te carau mayā kṣāttraṁ tejaśca te māturvyatyayaṁ ca kathaṁcana karomi vādhamo loke śāstrasya ca vyatikramam

Richika said: Whatever brahminical splendour there was, I placed it in your cake, and the kshatriya splendour in your mother's — how then could I now reverse it, and become in this world the basest transgressor of scripture?

Verse 42 (skanda.6.166.42)

॥ पत्न्युवाच ॥ ॥ यद्येवं भृगुशार्दूल मम पौत्रोऽत्र यो भवेत् ॥ क्षात्त्रं तेजोऽखिलं तस्य गात्रे भूयात्त्वयाऽऽहृतम्

patnyuvāca yadyevaṁ bhṛguśārdūla mama pautro'tra yo bhavet kṣāttraṁ tejo'khilaṁ tasya gātre bhūyāttvayā''hṛtam

The wife said: If that is so, O tiger among the Bhrigus, then let all the kshatriya splendour, drawn out by you, pass instead into the body of whatever grandson is born to me.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.166.43)

पुत्रस्तु ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो भूयादभ्यधिकस्तव

putrastu brāhmaṇaśreṣṭho bhūyādabhyadhikastava

'But let my son be a foremost brahmin, even surpassing yourself.'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.166.44)

॥ ऋचीक उवाच ॥ ॥ एवं भवतु मद्वाक्यात्पुत्रस्ते ब्राह्मणः शुभे ॥ पौत्रः सुदुर्द्धरः संख्ये संयुक्तः क्षात्त्रतेजसा

ṛcīka uvāca evaṁ bhavatu madvākyātputraste brāhmaṇaḥ śubhe pautraḥ sudurddharaḥ saṁkhye saṁyuktaḥ kṣāttratejasā

Richika said: So be it, by my word, O auspicious one; your son shall be a brahmin, and your grandson, unassailable in battle, shall be endowed with kshatriya splendour.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.166.45)

ततः सत्यं वरं लब्ध्वा प्रसन्नवदना सती ॥ मातुर्निवेदयामास तत्सर्वं कांतजल्पितम्

tataḥ satyaṁ varaṁ labdhvā prasannavadanā satī māturnivedayāmāsa tatsarvaṁ kāṁtajalpitam

Then, having obtained that true boon, that virtuous woman, her face bright with joy, related to her mother all that her beloved husband had spoken.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.166.46)

ततः सा दशमे मासि संप्राप्ते गुरुदैवते ॥ नक्षत्रे जनयामास पुत्रं बालार्कसन्निभम्

tataḥ sā daśame māsi saṁprāpte gurudaivate nakṣatre janayāmāsa putraṁ bālārkasannibham

Then, in the tenth month, when the constellation presided over by Guru had arrived, she gave birth to a son radiant as the rising sun.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.166.47)

ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समोपेतं निधानं तपसां शुचि ॥ जमदग्निरिति ख्यातो योऽसौ त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतः ॥ तस्य पुत्रोभवत्ख्यातो रामोनाम महायशाः

brāhmyā lakṣmyā samopetaṁ nidhānaṁ tapasāṁ śuci jamadagniriti khyāto yo'sau trailokyaviśrutaḥ tasya putrobhavatkhyāto rāmonāma mahāyaśāḥ

Endowed with brahminical splendour, a pure treasury of austerities, he became renowned by the name Jamadagni, famed throughout the three worlds; and his son became renowned by the name Rama, of great glory.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.166.48)

एकविंशतिदा येन धरा निःक्षत्रिया कृता ॥ क्षात्त्रतेजःप्रभावेन पितामहप्रसादतः

ekaviṁśatidā yena dharā niḥkṣatriyā kṛtā kṣāttratejaḥprabhāvena pitāmahaprasādataḥ

By whom the earth was rendered free of kshatriyas twenty-one times over, through the power of that kshatriya splendour granted by his grandfather's grace.