Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c22.86

c22.86

Jamadagni had four³ or five⁴ sons, of whom Rāma was the youngest and greatest.⁵ Rāma is always described as a great warrior, skilled in all weapons,⁶ especially in archery.⁷ Though a brahman, he is generally spoken of as virtually a kṣatriya,⁸ combining the two characters, *brahma-kṣatra*.⁹ The battle-axe is mentioned as his special weapon,¹⁰ whence he is sometimes called Paraśu-Rāma¹¹ in later writings, to distinguish him from Rāma of Ayodhyā, who is then called Rāmacandra.¹²