The Rama-Lakshmana-Parashurama dialogue in the Bal Kand of Ramayana is one of the most famous and profound dialogues in Hindu scriptures. This dialogue is not just a story but a medium of deep philosophical, religious, and social teachings. It is a dialogue between three main characters – Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Parashurama.
Lord Rama had broken Lord Shiva’s bow in Sita Swayamvara. Parashurama’s anger was not only about the breaking of Shiva’s bow but it also shows his arrogance and his insecurity about his superiority in the art of warfare. At this time Rama confronted him with restraint and wisdom, leading to this dialogue.
Rama is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is the ideal son, brother, and king. Rama is famous for his humble nature and following dharma. His calm and composed role in this dialogue reflects his divine nature.
Laxmana is Rama’s younger brother and a symbol of his devotion, dedication, and courage. In this dialogue, Lakshman's anger and his frankness show how devoted he is to his brother.
Parashuram is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is considered a great warrior, a devotee of Shiva and a symbol of anger. Parashuram's personality believes in accepting the challenge of ego and power.
When Parashuram heard that Lord Shiva's bow had broken, he reached the court of King Janak in great anger. His anger was such that all the kings present there were frightened. He demanded that whoever is guilty of breaking Shiva's bow should come forward.
O Lord! The one who broke Shiva's bow must be one of your servants. What is your order, why don't you tell me? Hearing this, the angry sage said in anger - A servant is one who does the work of service. One should fight after doing the work of the enemy. O Ram! Listen, the one who broke Shiva's bow is my enemy like Sahasrabahu.
He should leave this society and go away, otherwise all the kings will be killed. Hearing the words of the sage, Lakshman smiled and insulting Parshuram ji said- O Gosain! I broke many bows in my childhood, but you never got angry like this. Why do you have so much affection for this bow? Hearing this, Parshuram ji, the flag bearer of Bhrigu dynasty, became angry and said.
O Prince! You are not in your senses while speaking because you are under the influence of time. Is this bow of Lord Shiva, famous in the whole world, similar to Dhanuhi?
Lakshman ji said laughingly- O Dev! Listen, as far as I know, all bows are the same. What is the loss or gain in breaking an old bow! Shri Ramchandra ji had seen it by mistake, thinking it to be a new one.
And it broke as soon as it was touched, Raghunath ji is also not at fault in this. Muni! Why do you get angry without any reason? Looking at his axe, Parshuram ji said- O wicked one! You have not heard my nature.
I am not killing you thinking you are a child. O fool! Do you think of me as a mere sage? I am celibate from childhood and extremely short-tempered. I am known all over the world as the enemy of the Kshatriya clan.
With the strength of my arms, I have made the earth free of kings and given it to Brahmins many times. O Prince! See this axe of mine which cut off the arms of Sahastrabahu!
O son of a king! Do not try to influence your parents with your thoughts. My axe is very dangerous, it can destroy even the children in the womb.
Lakshmanji said smilingly in a soft voice- Oh, the sage considers himself a great warrior. He keeps showing me the axe. He wants to blow away the mountain with a blow.
There is no small raw fruit of pumpkin here, which dies at the sight of the index finger. I had said something with pride only after seeing the axe and bow-arrow.
Considering me to be a descendant of Bhrigu and seeing the sacred thread, I tolerate whatever you say by controlling my anger. In our clan, bravery is not shown against deities, Brahmins, devotees of God and cows.
Because killing them is a sin and getting defeated by them brings disgrace, therefore even if you kill them, I should touch your feet. Your every word is equal to millions of thunderbolts. You wear bow-arrow and axe in vain.
If I have said something inappropriate after seeing these (bow-arrow and axe), then O patient great sage! Please forgive me. Hearing this, Bhrigu descendant Parshuramji spoke in a serious voice with anger- O Vishwamitra! Listen, this boy is very ill-intentioned and devious, under the influence of time, he is becoming a killer of his clan. He is a disgrace to the full moon of the Suryavansh. He is absolutely arrogant, foolish and fearless.
In a moment, he will be devoured by time. I will tell him by calling him, then I am not to be blamed. If you want to save him, then tell him about our glory, strength and anger and convince him.
Laxmanji said- O Muni! Who else can describe your good fame in your presence? You have described your deeds many times in many ways with your own mouth.
If even after this you are not satisfied, then say something. Do not bear unbearable pain by controlling anger. You are the one who has taken the vow of bravery, patient and free from anger. It is not good to abuse.
A brave person does his deeds (acts of bravery) in the war, he does not reveal them by saying. Only cowards brag about their glory on finding the enemy present in the war.
It is as if you are calling death and calling him for me again and again. On hearing the harsh words of Lakshmanji, Parshuramji readied his terrible axe and took it in his hand.
(And said-) Now people should not blame me. This bitter-spoken boy deserves to be killed. Seeing him as a child I saved him a lot, but now He has really come to die.
Vishwamitra said- please forgive me. Saints do not count the faults and virtues of children. (Parshuram said-) A sharp axe, I am merciless and angry and this traitor and criminal is answering in front of me. Even then I am leaving him without killing him, O Vishwamitra! only because of your modesty (love). Otherwise I would have repaid the debt to my Guru with little effort by chopping him off with this hard axe.
Vishwamitra said laughing in his heart- Muni is thinking only green (means because of being victorious everywhere, he is considering Shri Ram-Laxman as ordinary Kshatriyas), but this is iron-made (made of steel only) sugar cane (Khanda-Khadag), not sugar cane (juice) sugar (which melts as soon as it is taken in the mouth. I am sorry) Muni is still foolish, he is not understanding its effect.
Laxman said- O Muni! Who does not know about your modesty? It is known all over the world. You have already repaid the debt to your parents, now the debt of Guru remains, about which I am very much worried
It was as if it was imposed on our head. Many days have passed, due to this the interest must have increased a lot. Now call someone who does the accounting, I will immediately open the bag and give it to you.
Hearing Lakshman's bitter words, Parshuram took up his axe. The entire assembly cried out in pain. (Laxman said-) O Bhrigu Shrestha! You are showing me the axe? But O enemy of kings! I am saving you considering you a Brahmin. You have never met a brave and strong warrior. O Brahmin God! You are the eldest in the family. Hearing this, everyone cried out saying 'It is wrong, it is wrong'. Then Shri Raghunath stopped Lakshman with a gesture.
Seeing the fire of Parshuram's anger increasing due to Lakshman's answer, which was like an offering, the Sun of Raghukul Shri Ramchandra spoke words like (calming) water- O Lord! Have mercy on the child. Do not be angry with this innocent and infant child. If he knew anything about the Lord's (your) influence, would this foolish person have equaled you? If a child does something naughty, then the Guru, father and mother are filled with joy in their hearts. Therefore, please be kind to him by considering him as a small child and servant. You are an equal, well behaved, patient and wise sage.
Hearing the words of Shri Ramchandra ji, he calmed down a bit. Meanwhile, Lakshman ji said something and smiled again. Seeing him laughing, anger filled Parashuram ji from the toes to the top of his head (whole body). He said- O Ram! Your brother is a big sinner. He is fair in body, but very black at heart. He has a poisonous face, not a newborn. His nature is crooked, he does not follow you (is not as virtuous as you). This wicked man does not see me as equal to death.
Lakshman ji said smilingly- O Muni! Listen, anger is the root of sin, under whose influence people commit wrong deeds and go against the world (harm everyone). O Muniraj! I am your servant. Now give up anger and show mercy. A broken bow will not be joined by anger. Your feet must be hurting from standing, sit down.
If the bow is very dear to you, then some solution should be found and a skilled artisan should be called to get it re-formed. Janakji gets scared by Lakshmanji's words and says - enough, keep quiet, it is not good to speak inappropriately. The men and women of Janakpur are trembling (and are saying in their minds that) the younger prince is very deceitful. Hearing Lakshmanji's fearless voice, Parshuramji's body is burning with anger and his strength is getting lost (his strength is decreasing).
Then, feeling obliged to Shri Ramchandraji, Parshuramji said - considering him your younger brother, I am saving him. He is dirty at heart and how beautiful he is in body, like a golden pot filled with the juice of poison! Hearing this, Lakshmanji laughed again. Then Shri Ramchandraji looked at him with a side glance, due to which Lakshmanji became hesitant and stopped speaking against him and went to his Guruji.
With folded hands, Shri Ramchandraji spoke in a very polite and soft voice- O Lord! Listen, you are wise by nature. Do not listen to the words of the child (ignore it). The nature of a wasp and a child is the same. Saints never blame them. Moreover, he (Laxman) has not done any harm to your work, O Lord! I am your culprit.
Therefore, O Lord! Kindness, anger, killing and binding, whatever you want to do, do it on me like a slave (i.e. considering me as a slave). The way in which your anger can be removed soon. O Muniraj! Tell me, I will do that.
The sage said- O Lord! How can the anger go away, even now your younger brother is staring at me crookedly. If I did not swing an axe on his neck, then what did I do by getting angry?
I am seeing this enemy prince alive in the presence of the same axe whose fierce sound causes the wives of kings to miscarry. My hand is not able to move, my chest burns with anger. (Alas!) This axe which kills kings has also become frustrated. The Creator has turned against me, due to this my nature has changed, otherwise, how can there be mercy in my heart at any time?
Today mercy is making me bear this unbearable pain. Hearing this, Lakshmana smiled and bowed his head (and said-) The wind of your mercy is also favorable to your image, your words are spoken as if flowers are falling. O sage! If your body burns due to mercy, then in anger only the Creator will protect your body. (Parshuram said-) O Janak! See, this foolish boy stubbornly wants to make his home (residence) in Yampuri.
Why don't you hide him from your eyes soon? This prince looks small, but is very deceitful. Lakshmanji laughed and said to himself- there is no one anywhere when you close your eyes. Then Parshuramji filled with extreme anger in his heart said to Shri Ramji- hey wicked one! You By breaking Lord Shiva's bow, he teaches us wisdom.
This brother of yours speaks harsh words with your own advice and you deceitfully beg with folded hands. Either satisfy me in the war or stop being called Ram. Oh Shiva-enemy! Give up deceit and fight with me. Otherwise I will kill you along with your brother. In this way, Parshuramji is blabbering with an axe in his hand and Shri Ramchandraji is smiling in his mind with his head bowed.
(Shri Ramchandraji said in his mind-) You are committing a crime (fault) on Lakshman and are angry at me. Sometimes, there is a big fault in straightforwardness also. People worship anyone knowing him to be crooked, even Rahu does not swallow the crooked moon. Shri Ramchandraji (openly) said- Oh Munishwar! Leave your anger. You have an axe in your hand and this head of mine is in front, whatever way you want to vent your anger, Oh lord! Do the same.
Consider me your follower. How can there be a war between a master and a servant? O great Brahmin! Give up your anger. The boy had said something just after seeing your (heroic) attire, in reality he is not at fault either. Seeing you carrying an axe, arrow and bow and thinking you to be a brave man, the boy became angry. He knew your name, but he did not recognize you. He replied according to the nature of his clan (Raghu clan).
If you had come like a sage, O lord! The boy would have put the dust of your feet on his head. Please forgive the mistake committed by him. Brahmins should have a lot of compassion in their hearts. O lord! How can we be equal to you? Tell me, where are the feet and where are the heads! Where is my small name Ram and where is your big name with a parashu.
O lord! I have only one attribute, the bow and you have nine extremely sacred attributes (shama, self-control, penance, purity, forgiveness, simplicity, knowledge, science and faith). I have lost to you in every way. O Brahmin! Please forgive my crimes.
Shri Ramchandra repeatedly called Parashurama 'Muni' and 'Brahmin'. Then Bhrigupati (Parashurama) said in anger (or laughing in anger)- You are also as crooked as your brother. Do you think I am a mere Brahmin? I will tell you as a Brahmin. Consider the bow as a bowstring, the arrow as an offering and my anger as a very dreadful fire.
The four-fold army is beautiful samidha (wood burnt in a yagya). Great kings have come in it and become sacrificial animals, whom I have slaughtered by cutting them with this axe. I have performed crores of such war sacrifices with chanting (i.e. just as an offering is made with the word 'Swaha' with the chanting of mantras, in the same way I have sacrificed the kings by calling them).
You do not know my power, that is why you are talking about me by insulting me by deceiving me as a Brahmin. You broke the bow, this has increased your pride a lot. Such is his arrogance, as if he has conquered the world. Shri Ramchandraji said- O Muni! Think before you speak. Your anger is very big and my mistake is very small. It was an old bow, it broke as soon as I touched it. Why should I be proud?
O Bhrigunath! If we really disrespect by calling him a Brahmin, then listen to this truth, then who is the warrior in the world before whom we bow our heads out of fear? Gods, demons, kings or many other warriors, whether they are equal to us in strength or more powerful, if anyone challenges us in the battle, we will happily fight him, even if it is death. The wretch who got scared in the battle by assuming the form of a Kshatriya, has brought disgrace to his clan. I say this naturally, not to praise the clan, that Raghuvanshis are not afraid of even death in the battle.
Such is the power (glory) of the Brahmin clan that whoever fears you, becomes the most fearless (or whoever is fearless, also fears you). Hearing the soft and mysterious words of Shri Raghunathji, the curtains of Parashurama's intellect opened. (Parshurama said-) O Ram! O Lakshmipati! Take the bow (or the bow of Lakshmipati Vishnu) in your hand and pull it, so that my doubts are dispelled. When Parashurama started giving the bow, it went away on its own. Then Parashurama was very surprised.
Then he understood the power of Shri Ramji, (due to which) his body became thrilled and cheerful. He folded his hands and said the words - love could not be contained in his heart - O Sun of the lotus forest in the form of Raghukul! O Agni who burns the dense forest in the form of the clan of demons! Victory to you! O God, the one who does good to Brahmins and cows! Victory to you. O the one who removes pride, attachment, anger and delusion! Victory to you.
O ocean of virtues like humility, modesty, kindness and extremely clever in composing words! Hail to you. O giver of happiness to the servants, beautiful in all the parts and having the image of crores of Kamadevas in the body! Hail to you. How can I praise you with one mouth? O swan of Manasarovar which is the mind of Mahadevji! Hail to you. I have unknowingly said many inappropriate words to you. O temple of forgiveness, both the brothers! Please forgive me.
O Shri Ramchandraji, the flag bearer of Raghukul! Hail to you, hail to you, hail to you. Saying this, Parshuramji went to the forest for penance. (Seeing this) the wicked kings, out of fear (even Parshuramji was defeated by Ramchandraji, we had insulted him, now he might take revenge, he got scared of this useless fear) those cowards ran away secretly here and there.
The gods played drums, they started showering flowers on the Lord. All the men and women of Janakpur were delighted. Their pain of delusion (born out of ignorance) was removed.
This dialogue teaches us that ego and anger can be conquered with self-control and humility. Ram and Lakshman proved with their qualities what is the right use of power.
After this incident, Parshuram focused all his attention on penance and preaching religion. This was another example of Rama's greatness, where he destroyed the arrogance of a great warrior with his divinity and restraint.
The Rama-Laxmana-Parashurama dialogue is not just a story but an inspiration, which makes us realize the importance of humility, patience, and prudence.
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