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CHAPTER FOUR
Kệtavirya heard his father's story from his mother and went and killed Jamadagni, like a snake that had been pointed out. Rāma was angered at his father's murder, went quickly to Hastināpura and killed Křtavīrya. What is at a great distance from Vama ? The son of Jamadagni established himself in the kingdom. For sovereignty is dependent on power. Succession and lack of succession are not authority. Kộtavīrya's queen left the city conquered by Rāma, though she was pregnant, and went to a hermitage of ascetics, like a doe from a forest that is scented with tigers. The compassionate ascetics put her, like a deposit, in an underground room, and protected her from cruel Paraśurāma. A son, who had been indicated by the fourteen great dreams, was born to her. Because he took ground easily, he was named Subhūma.81
Death of Rāma (79-100) Wherever there was a Ksatriya, there Paraśurāma's axe blazed like the fire of anger embodied. One day Rāma went to that hermitage and the axe blazed, indicating a Kșatriya like smoke a fire. The ascetics were questioned by Rāma, “Is a Kșatriya here?”' and they replied, “We are Ksatriyas who became ascetics." Because of his anger Rāma made the earth clear of Ksatriyas seven times, like a forest-fire clearing a mountain-slope of grass. Rāma filled a dish with the crushed teeth of the Ksatriyas, giving the appearance of a full dish of Vama whose desire had been fulfilled.
One day Rāma asked the astrologers, "From what source will my slaying come?" For always people engaged in hostilities fear death from an enemy. They said, “Your slaying will come from him who, occupying the lion-throne here, eats the teeth made into a rice-pudding.” Rāma had an asylum built, quite open, and had a lion-throne set in the front part, and the dish in front of it.
81 78. See Abhi. 3. 357.
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