31 - Parashurama advised by Brahma to approach shiva about Haihaya

Sagara enquired: 

1.    O highly fortunate son of Brahmă, recount unto me the activities of Parashuråma. What did that highly vigorous sage do, when he got extremely enraged by the act of the king?

Vasishtha said: 

2. After that highly fortunate sage Bhrugu had departed, the infuriated sage Råma who was devoted to his father, spoke thus, having hevy sighs again and again. 

Parashuräma said: 

3. Alas, see the foolishness of king Kårttavirya who has Strayed to the evil path. Deliberately he has committed an attempt to murder a Brahmana. 

4. I believe that the Fate is very powerful, for the embodied beings are deluded by its influence and all of them thereby commit good and evil actions, 

5. Let all the sages hear (as witness) the vow that is taken by me. I shall avenge my father by killing Kårttavirya in the battle. 

6. Even if the king were to be defended by Indra and other Devas as well as by Dänavas, I shall certainly kill him. It won't be otherwise." 

7. On hearing the words thus spoken by Räma, the noble-souled sage Jamadagni said to his son who had spoken so boldly and daringly. 

Jamadagni advised: 

8. Listen Rama. I shall recount the eternal virtue of good men. On paying heed to this, all men become virtuous. 

9. Good persons of exalted fortune who are desirous of ultimate freedom from the worldly existence, do not become excessively furious with anyone, although they are condemned and beaten. 

10. Those ascetics of exalted fortune exercise full control over their sense-organs. To such men of perpetual good actions are the worlds of never-ending pleasure. 

11. He who is beaten with sticks and other things and who is reproached by words by wicked men does not become agitated, is glorified as a Sådhu (i.e. a good and great person). 

12. He who retaliates by beating a person who beats him is not a Sådhu. He is a sinner. We are Sådhus and Brähmaņas who have attained a venerable status, due to forbearance. 

13. A very great sin may result if the king is slain, O dear one: Hence, I restrain you now. Accord forgiveness and perform a penance."

Vasishtha said: 

14. After understanding fully what had been commanded thus by his father, O prince, Råma, the suppressor of enemies, spoke to his father habitually inclined to forget and forgive. 

Parašhurāma replied: 

15. O dear father of great intellect, listen now to my humble submission. Peace and restraint have been advocated by you for Sadhus of noble souls. 

16. That procedure of peace and restraint should be directed towards good men, men in pitiable conditions and elderly men by people who consider them as godly. But this restraint cannot be one that yields happiness when directed towards men of evil actions. 

17. Hence, Karttavīrya should be slain by me. O venerable one, permit me. Let me fulfil my enmity (let me take proper revenge).” 

Jamadagni replied: 

18. "Listen to iny words attentively, O Rāma, O highly fortunate one. You shall act in accordance with the inevitable future. It cannot be otherwise at all. 

19. Go tO god Brahmå from here. Ask him, O dear one, what is conducive in your welfare and what is not. You shall do what that holy lord says. There is no doubt in this." 

Vasishtha continued: 

10. On being told thus, that highly intelligent sage bowed down to his father and went to the world of Brahma where ordinary people have no access at all. 

21. He saw the world of Brahmå made of gold. It had the ramparts of gold. It was embellished with pillars studded with jewels. 

22. There he saw Brahmă of unmeasured prowess, scated on a beautiful throne set with gems and jewels. He was adorned with ornaments set with gems and jewels. 

23. He was surrounded by leading Siddhas and sages engaged in meditation. He was gaily and smilingly watching the dance of Vidyadhara damsels. 

24. He saw Brahma, the giver of benefits of penance, the lord and creator of the worlds, meditating on the perfect Brahman, with perfect mental control. 

25. He was continuously expounding the secret yogic science to the groups of devotees. On seeing that unchanging lord, the leading member of the family of Bhrugu devoutly bowed down to him. 

26. On seeing Ráma with his head bent down, he congratulated and blessed him and enquired about his happiness—"O dear child, what have you come here for?" 

27. On being asked hy the Creator, Rama recounted everything from the beginning, the interlude of Kārttavirya and his noble-souled father. 

28. On hearing everything, O bestower of honour, Brahmā who had already understood everything, spoke to the highly righteous Rämna something that would ultimately lead to happy consequences. 

29. “Difficult to accomplish indeed is the vow that you have taken out of anger. O Brahmacharin, this creation originates, due to the grace of the Lord. 

30. It was with very great stress and strain that the Universe was created by me at His behest. The vow that you have taken is destructive of the same. 

31. You wish to make the Earth rid of kings twenty-one times on account of the fault of a single king, as well as the discomfiture of your father. 

32. The eternal creation along with the Brāhmaṇas Kșhatriyas, Vaiśhyas and Śhūdras has come out of Hari and merged into him again and again. 

33-36. Your vow will be non-futile on account of this early law of the Universe* Or if you think that you are to achieve your object with your own endeavour, go to Shiva's world and take the permission of Shiva. On the Earth there are many kings who are the followers of Shankara. Without the permission of the great god who is powerful enough to kill them as they wear the coat of Mail, have shaktis (divine javelins) inaccessible to others. Strive to attain the seed of victory conducive to happiness. If the right means is to be used all endeavours become successful. 

*Possibly the idea seems to be this: - there can be annihilation of all the subjects twentyone times in twentyone Yugas. 

37. O dear boy, take from your preceptor Hara, a Kavacha¹ (coat of mail) having the Mantra of Śhrīkrişhņa. The splendour of Vișhnu is difficult to be transgressed but Śhiva's power will conquer it. 

1. Mantra though derived from v man by Nirukta. (vii. 12) later on came to be traced in Tantra works to two roots - man-'to think' or 'meditate and-trai-'to protect'. Thus mantra is that formula of letters which on being meditated upon protects (Vide Prapancha-sara and Kularnava Tantras (17.54). Kavacha is a variety of mantra which was believed to work as a coat of mail to the reciter. Here infra II.iü.33.3-4 thc Krishna mantra of 10 syllables, viz.: Gopi-jana-vallabhaya svaha is given. While the Kavacha called Trailokya-vijaya, also based on Krishna is stated in vv, 5-27 there. 

38. The Kavacha named Trailokya-Vijaya (conquest of the three worlds) is extremely miraculous and wonderful. By pleading and entreating to Shankara somehow try to get this (Kavacha) which is difficult to be obtained. 

39. Delighted by your good qualities, the compassionate lord who endears himself to those who are in a wretched condition, will definitely give even the divine Pashupata missile without any doubt.