| As Dasaratha
and Vasishtha were thus conversing, there broke out a great storm; trees were uprooted;
the earth quaked and clouds of dust went up and hid the sun and there was an
all-enveloping darkness. Everyone was terror-struck. Soon they knew the reason for the
strange phenomenon. There stood before them the awe-inspiring figure Parasuraama, the
sworn enemy of Kshatriyas, with a bow on one shoulder and a battle-axe on the other, and
with an arrow shining like lightning in his hand. Terrible
in appearance, with his matted locks gathered overhead, he looked like Rudra exulting in
the destruction of Tripura. His face emitted flame-like radiance. The son of Sage
Jamadagni struck terror among Kshatriyas, many generations of which he had a nihilated.
Wherever he went he was preceded by storm and earth quake. And the Kshatriya race trembled
in fear. |
