As per Hinduism, Parashurama is widely known as a person who raised war against Kshatriyas.

Now as per Vedas, whether a person is a Brahmana or a Kshatriya is based on his karmas only. If one kills another seeking revenge, is he a Brahmana or a Kshatriya?

If Parashurama is to be considered a Brahmana, he should've forgiven the Kshatriyas or at the most he should've cursed them, but why did he take up weapons?

Also Kalki avatar is predicted to be a Brahmana and will raise a war.

I think it's true that Brahmana is the one who never accepts Tamas nature. So can a Brahmana kill someone to seek revenge?

If a Brahmana does kill someone, should we now consider him a Kshatriya taking into account his recent actions?

  • 1
    Caste system was actually based on work not on birth. One who does business were called Vaishya and one who learn Shashtra Vidya were called as Kshtriya. As it was heard Parsurama & Vishwamitra Mother's were maid & queen and both were not having their son, Their Teacher give them one fruit each other but Parsuram's Mother exchange the fruits that's why Vishwamitra born as kshtriya but lived like Brahmana & Parsuram were Brahmana but lived like Kshatriya. – Keshav Sep 19 '14 at 10:01
  • Did you mean Rajas (passion, injuring others) nature instead of Tamas (laziness, inaction) in one of the lines? (for comparison, see here) – sv. Jan 29 '16 at 22:44

The Brahmins can indeed raise war in times of emergencies or when their life is endangered or when the situation demands so.

The Shastras clearly allow it.

Manu Smriti ,Chapter 8,Sloka 348,says:


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The Yajnavalkya Smriti similarly says:

21 — 23. In cases of emergency a brahmin shall pursue a Kshatriya's duties (administration and security) or a Vaishya's mercantile activites. But these articles he shall not sell:– fruits, soma, silk, medicinal creepers, curd, milk, ghee, water, sesame seeds, cooked rice, heavy metals, acids and alkalis, honey, lac, requisites of Homa, cloth, stone, utensils flowers, vegetables, clay, leather shoes, deer-skin, silk, salt, meat, oil cakes, roots and perfumes.

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Veda Vyasa also mentioned ‘Aapaddharmaas’ of Brahmanas rendering Kshatriya Dharmas, Kshatriyas assuming the duties of Vaishyas and so on. [Maha Bhagavata Purana provided escape clauses in the context of Varnaashrama Dharma: Yasya yallakshanam drusyata tat teniva vinirdisat/ In other words: the aspects of aptitude and practice may be endorsed; as such the Principles are of general regulative nature while in practice, the updated considerations of ‘Desha-Kaala-Maana Paristhithis’ would indeed prevail]

("Apaaddharmas" mean duties during an emergency.)

The Parshara Smriti(Ch 7,Sloka 35) says:

  1. During a civil commotion, or in exile, or when ill, or in misfortune, the first consideration is to preserve one's life ; practice of religion should at the time be postponed.

The above verse also can be interpreted as Shastras allowing Brahmins to take up arms when the situation is demanding so or when their lives are in danger.


SB 11.17.47

If a brāhmaṇa cannot support himself through his regular duties and is thus suffering, he may adopt the occupation of a merchant and overcome his destitute condition by buying and selling material things. If he continues to suffer extreme poverty even as a merchant, then he may adopt the occupation of a kṣatriya, taking sword in hand. But he cannot in any circumstances become like a dog, accepting an ordinary master.

So, a Brahmin can act as merchant(Vaishya) during his troublesome times. If he continues to suffer in trouble, he is allowed to act like a Kshatriya, mean he can participate in war.

Parashurama did kill Kshatriyas and acted as a Kshatriya by indulging in war, but at the same time he was also a Guru, job of Brahmins. And stories in Ithihas and Puranas can never be our rule book.

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