Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1917

c8.1917

3) Rākṣasayāga. Even before the birth of Parāśara, Kalmāṣapāda in his demoniacal form ate his father, Śakti. Therefore Parāśara nurtured an obstinate hatred against the Rākṣasas. So he performed a Yāga to kill all the rākṣasas. Thousands of rākṣasas were burnt to death at this yāga and Vasiṣṭha, grandfather of Parāśara felt sorry for the innocent rākṣasas. He approached Parāśara and said “Son, do not give way to such anger. Abandon this wrath. What harm have these poor rākṣasas done? Death was in the destiny of your father. Every one has to suffer the result of his own deeds. Anger destroys the fame and austerity which one has attained by years of toil. Therefore abandon your anger and wind up your Yāga.”