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> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > ******

> > Chapter Fifteen: Parasurâma, the Lord's Warrior Incarnation

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> > ailasya corvasî-garbhât

> > sad âsann âtmajâ nrpa

> > âyuh srutâyuh satyâyû

> > rayo 'tha vijayo jayah

> > srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; ailasya--of Purûravâ; ca--also; urvasî-garbhât--from the womb of Urvasî; sat--six; âsan--there were; âtmajâh--sons; nrpa--O King Parîksit; âyuh--Âyu; srutâyuh--Srutâyu; satyâyuh--Satyâyu; rayah--Raya; atha--as well as; vijayah--Vijaya; jayah--Jaya.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, from the womb of Urvasi, six sons were generated by Pururava. Their names were Ayu, Srutayu, Satyayu, Raya, Vijaya and Jaya.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 2-3

> > srutâyor vasumân putrah

> > satyâyos ca srutanjayah

> > rayasya suta ekas ca

> > jayasya tanayo 'mitah

> > bhîmas tu vijayasyâtha

> > kâncano hotrakas tatah

> > tasya jahnuh suto gangâm

> > gandûsî-krtya yo 'pibat

> > srutâyoh--of Srutâyu; vasumân--Vasumân; putrah--a son; satyâyoh--of Satyâyu; ca--also; srutanjayah--a son named Srutanjaya; rayasya--of Raya; sutah--a son; ekah--by the name Eka; ca--and; jayasya--of Jaya; tanayah--the son; amitah--by the name Amita;

> > bhîmah--by the name Bhîma; tu--indeed; vijayasya--of Vijaya; atha--thereafter; kâncanah--Kâncana, the son of Bhîma; hotrakah--Hotraka, the son of Kâncana; tatah--then; tasya--of Hotraka; jahnuh--by the name Jahnu; sutah--a son; gangâm--all the water of the Ganges; gandûsî-krtya--by one sip; yah--he who (Jahnu); apibat--drank.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The son of Srutayu was Vasuman; the son of Satyayu, Srutanjaya; the son of Raya, Eka; the son of Jaya, Amita; and the son of Vijaya, Bhima. The son of Bhima was Kancana; the son of Kancana was Hotraka; and the son of Hotraka was Jahnu, who drank all the water of the Ganges in one sip.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > jahnos tu purus tasyâtha

> > balâkas câtmajo 'jakah

> > tatah kusah kusasyâpi

> > kusâmbus tanayo vasuh

> > kusanâbhas ca catvâro

> > gâdhir âsît kusâmbujah

> > jahnoh--of Jahnu; tu--indeed; puruh--a son named Puru; tasya--of Puru; atha--thereafter; balâkah--a son named Balâka; ca--and; âtmajah--Balâka's son; ajakah--of the name Ajaka; tatah--thereafter; kusah--Kusa; kusasya--of Kusa; api--then; kusâmbuh--Kusâmbu; tanayah--Tanaya; vasuh--Vasu; kusanâbhah--Kusanâbha; ca--and; catvârah--four (sons); gâdhih--Gâdhi; âsît--there was; kusâmbujah--the son of Kusâmbu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The son of Jahnu was Puru, the son of Puru was Balaka, the son of Balaka was Ajaka, and the son of Ajaka was Kusa. Kusa had four sons, named Kusambu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kusanabha. The son of Kusambu was Gadhi.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 5-6

> > tasya satyavatîm kanyâm

> > rcîko 'yâcata dvijah

> > varam visadrsam matvâ

> > gâdhir bhârgavam abravît

> > ekatah syâma-karnânâm

> > hayânâm candra-varcasâm

> > sahasram dîyatâm sulkam

> > kanyâyâh kusikâ vayam

> > tasya--of Gâdhi; satyavatîm--Satyavatî; kanyâm--the daughter; rcîkah--the great sage Rcîka; ayâcata--requested; dvijah--the brâhmana; varam--as her husband; visadrsam--not equal or fit; matvâ--thinking like that; gâdhih--King Gâdhi; bhârgavam--unto Rcîka; abravît--replied;

> > ekatah--by one; syâma-karnânâm--whose ear is black; hayânâm--horses; candra-varcasâm--as brilliant as the moonshine; sahasram--one thousand; dîyatâm--please deliver; sulkam--as a dowry; kanyâyâh--to my daughter; kusikâh--in the family of Kusa; vayam--we (are).

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Gadhi had a daughter named Satyavati, whom a brahmana sage named Rcika requested from the King to be his wife. King Gadhi, however, regarded Rcika as an unfit husband for his daughter, and therefore he told the brahmana, "My dear sir, I belong to the dynasty of Kusa. Because we are aristocratic ksatriyas, you have to give some dowry for my daughter. Therefore, bring at least one thousand horses, each as brilliant as moonshine and each having one black ear, whether right or left."

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > ity uktas tan-matam jnâtvâ

> > gatah sa varunântikam

> > ânîya dattvâ tân asvân

> > upayeme varânanâm

> > iti--thus; uktah--having been requested; tat-matam--his mind; jnâtvâ--(the sage) could understand; gatah--went; sah--he; varuna-antikam--to the place of Varuna; ânîya--having brought; dattvâ--and after delivering; tân--those; asvân--horses; upayeme--married; vara-ânanâm--the beautiful daughter of King Gâdhi.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When King Gadhi made this demand, the great sage Rcika could understand the King's mind. Therefore he went to the demigod Varuna and brought from him the one thousand horses that Gadhi had demanded. After delivering these horses, the sage married the King's beautiful daughter.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > sa rsih prârthitah patnyâ

> > svasrvâ câpatya-kâmyayâ

> > srapayitvobhayair mantrais

> > carum snâtum gato munih

> > sah--he (Rcîka); rsih--the great saint; prârthitah--being requested; patnyâ--by his wife; svasrvâ--by his mother-in-law; ca--also; apatya-kâmyayâ--desiring a son; srapayitvâ--after cooking; ubhayaih--both; mantraih--by chanting particular mantras; carum--a preparation for offering in a sacrifice; snâtum--to bathe; gatah--went out; munih--the great sage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Rcika Muni's wife and mother-in-law, each desiring a son, requested the Muni to prepare an oblation. Thus Rcika Muni prepared one oblation for his wife with a brahmana mantra and another for his mother-in-law with a ksatriya mantra. Then he went out to bathe.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tâvat satyavatî mâtrâ

> > sva-carum yâcitâ satî

> > srestham matvâ tayâyacchan

> > mâtre mâtur adat svayam

> > tâvat--in the meantime; satyavatî--Satyavatî, the wife of Rcîka; mâtrâ--by her mother; sva-carum--the oblation meant for herself (Satyavatî); yâcitâ--asked to give; satî--being; srestham--better; matvâ--thinking; tayâ--by her; ayacchat--delivered; mâtre--to her mother; mâtuh--of the mother; adat--ate; svayam--personally.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Meanwhile, because Satyavati's mother thought that the oblation prepared for her daughter, Rcika's wife, must be better, she asked her daughter for that oblation. Satyavati therefore gave her own oblation to her mother and ate her mother's oblation herself.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > tad viditvâ munih prâha

> > patnîm kastam akârasîh

> > ghoro danda-dharah putro

> > bhrâtâ te brahma-vittamah

> > tat--this fact; viditvâ--having learned; munih--the great sage; prâha--said; patnîm--unto his wife; kastam--very regrettable; akârasîh--you have done; ghorah--fierce; danda-dharah--a great personality who can punish others; putrah--such a son; bhrâtâ--brother; te--your; brahma-vittamah--a learned scholar in spiritual science.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the great sage Rcika returned home after bathing and understood what had happened in his absence, he said to his wife, Satyavati, "You have done a great wrong. Your son will be a fierce ksatriya, able to punish everyone, and your brother will be a learned scholar in spiritual science."

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > prasâditah satyavatyâ

> > maivam bhûr iti bhârgavah

> > atha tarhi bhavet pautro

> > jamadagnis tato 'bhavat

> > prasâditah--pacified; satyavatyâ--by Satyavatî; mâ--not; evam--thus; bhûh--let it be; iti--thus; bhârgavah--the great sage; atha--if your son should not become like that; tarhi--then; bhavet--should become like that; pautrah--the grandson; jamadagnih--Jamadagni; tatah--thereafter; abhavat--was born.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Satyavati, however, pacified Rcika Muni with peaceful words and requested that her son not be like a fierce ksatriya. Rcika Muni replied, "Then your grandson will be of a ksatriya spirit." Thus Jamadagni was born as the son of Satyavati.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 12-13

> > sâ câbhût sumahat-punyâ

> > kausikî loka-pâvanî

> > renoh sutâm renukâm vai

> > jamadagnir uvâha yâm

> > tasyâm vai bhârgava-rseh

> > sutâ vasumad-âdayah

> > yavîyân jajna etesâm

> > râma ity abhivisrutah

> > sâ--she (Satyavatî); ca--also; abhût--became; sumahat-punyâ--very great and sacred; kausikî--the river by the name Kausikî; loka-pâvanî--purifying the whole world; renoh--of Renu; sutâm--the daughter; renukâm--by the name Renukâ; vai--indeed; jamadagnih--Satyavatî's son, Jamadagni; uvâha--married; yâm--whom;

> > tasyâm--in the womb of Renukâ; vai--indeed; bhârgava-rseh--by the semen of Jamadagni; sutâh--sons; vasumat-âdayah--many, headed by Vasumân; yavîyân--the youngest; jajne--was born; etesâm--among them; râmah--Parasurâma; iti--thus; abhivisrutah--was known everywhere.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Satyavati later became the sacred river Kausiki to purify the entire world, and her son, Jamadagni, married Renuka, the daughter of Renu. By the semen of Jamadagni, many sons, headed by Vasuman, were born from the womb of Renuka. The youngest of them was named Rama, or Parasurama.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > yam âhur vâsudevâmsam

> > haihayânâm kulântakam

> > trih-sapta-krtvo ya imâm

> > cakre nihksatriyâm mahîm

> > yam--whom (Parasurâma); âhuh--all the learned scholars say; vâsudeva-amsam--an incarnation of Vâsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; haihayânâm--of the Haihayas; kula-antakam--the annihilator of the dynasty; trih-sapta-krtvah--twenty-one times; yah--who (Parasurâma); imâm--this; cakre--made; nihksatriyâm--devoid of ksatriyas; mahîm--the earth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Learned scholars accept this Parasurama as the celebrated incarnation of Vasudeva who annihilated the dynasty of Kartavirya. Parasurama killed all the ksatriyas on earth twenty-one times.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > drptam ksatram bhuvo bhâram

> > abrahmanyam anînasat

> > rajas-tamo-vrtam ahan

> > phalguny api krte 'mhasi

> > drptam--very proud; ksatram--the ksatriyas, the ruling class; bhuvah--of the earth; bhâram--burden; abrahmanyam--sinful, not caring for the religious principles enunciated by the brâhmanas; anînasat--drove away or annihilated; rajah-tamah--by the qualities of passion and ignorance; vrtam--covered; ahan--he killed; phalguni--not very great; api--although; krte--had been committed; amhasi--an offense.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the royal dynasty, being excessively proud because of the material modes of passion and ignorance, became irreligious and ceased to care for the laws enacted by the brahmanas, Parasurama killed them. Although their offense was not very severe, he killed them to lessen the burden of the world.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > srî-râjovâca

> > kim tad amho bhagavato

> > râjanyair ajitâtmabhih

> > krtam yena kulam nastam

> > ksatriyânâm abhîksnasah

> > srî-râjâ uvâca--Mahârâja Parîksit inquired; kim--what; tat amhah--that offense; bhagavatah--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; râjanyaih--by the royal family; ajita-âtmabhih--who could not control their senses and thus were degraded; krtam--which had been done; yena--by which; kulam--the dynasty; nastam--was annihilated; ksatriyânâm--of the royal family; abhîksnasah--again and again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: What was the offense that the ksatriyas who could not control their senses committed before Lord Parasurama, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for which the Lord annihilated the ksatriya dynasty again and again?

> > ******

> > TEXTS 17-19

> > srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> > haihayânâm adhipatir

> > arjunah ksatriyarsabhah

> > dattam nârâyanâmsâmsam

> > ârâdhya parikarmabhih

> > bâhûn dasa-satam lebhe

> > durdharsatvam arâtisu

> > avyâhatendriyaujah srî-

> > tejo-vîrya-yaso-balam

> > yogesvaratvam aisvaryam

> > gunâ yatrânimâdayah

> > cacârâvyâhata-gatir

> > lokesu pavano yathâ

> > srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî replied; haihayânâm adhipatih--the King of the Haihayas; arjunah--by the name Kârtavîryârjuna; ksatriya-rsabhah--the best of the ksatriyas; dattam--unto Dattâtreya; nârâyana-amsa-amsam--the plenary portion of the plenary portion of Nârâyana; ârâdhya--after worshiping; parikarmabhih--by worship according to the regulative principles;

> > bâhûn--arms; dasa-satam--one thousand (ten times one hundred); lebhe--achieved; durdharsatvam--the quality of being very difficult to conquer; arâtisu--in the midst of enemies; avyâhata--undefeatable; indriya-ojah--strength of the senses; srî--beauty; tejah--influence; vîrya--power; yasah--fame; balam--bodily strength;

> > yoga-îsvaratvam--controlling power gained by the practice of mystic yoga; aisvaryam--opulence; gunâh--qualities; yatra--wherein; animâ-âdayah--eight kinds of yogic perfection (animâ, laghimâ, etc.); cacâra--he went; avyâhata-gatih--whose progress was indefatigable; lokesu--all over the world or universe; pavanah--the wind; yathâ--like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: The best of the ksatriyas, Kartaviryarjuna, the King of the Haihayas, received one thousand arms by worshiping Dattatreya, the plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. He also became undefeatable by enemies and received unobstructed sensory power, beauty, influence, strength, fame and the mystic power by which to achieve all the perfections of yoga, such as anima and laghima. Thus having become fully opulent, he roamed all over the universe without opposition, just like the wind.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > strî-ratnair âvrtah krîdan

> > revâmbhasi madotkatah

> > vaijayantîm srajam bibhrad

> > rurodha saritam bhujaih

> > strî-ratnaih--by beautiful women; âvrtah--surrounded; krîdan--enjoying; revâ-ambhasi--in the water of the River Revâ, or Narmadâ; mada-utkatah--too puffed up because of opulence; vaijayantîm srajam--the garland of victory; bibhrat--being decorated with; rurodha--stopped the flow; saritam--of the river; bhujaih--with his arms.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once while enjoying in the water of the River Narmada, the puffed-up Kartaviryarjuna, surrounded by beautiful women and garlanded with a garland of victory, stopped the flow of the water with his arms.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > viplâvitam sva-sibiram

> > pratisrotah-sarij-jalaih

> > nâmrsyat tasya tad vîryam

> > vîramânî dasânanah

> > viplâvitam--having been inundated; sva-sibiram--his own camp; pratisrotah--which was flowing in the opposite direction; sarit-jalaih--by the water of the river; na--not; amrsyat--could tolerate; tasya--of Kârtavîryârjuna; tat vîryam--that influence; vîramânî--considering himself very heroic; dasa-ânanah--the ten-headed Râvana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because Kartaviryarjuna made the water flow in the opposite direction, the camp of Ravana, which was set up on the bank of the Narmada near the city of Mâhismatî, was inundated. This was unbearable to the ten-headed Ravana, who considered himself a great hero and could not tolerate Kartaviryarjuna's power.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > grhîto lîlayâ strînâm

> > samaksam krta-kilbisah

> > mâhismatyâm sanniruddho

> > mukto yena kapir yathâ

> > grhîtah--was arrested by force; lîlayâ--very easily; strînâm--of the women; samaksam--in the presence; krta-kilbisah--thus becoming an offender; mâhismatyâm--in the city known as Mâhismatî; sanniruddhah--was arrested; muktah--released; yena--by whom (Kârtavîryârjuna); kapih yathâ--exactly as done to a monkey.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Ravana attempted to insult Kartaviryarjuna in the presence of the women and thus offended him, Kartaviryarjuna easily arrested Ravana and put him in custody in the city of Mahismati, just as one captures a monkey, and then released him neglectfully.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > sa ekadâ tu mrgayâm

> > vicaran vijane vane

> > yadrcchayâsrama-padam

> > jamadagner upâvisat

> > sah--he, Kârtavîryârjuna; ekadâ--once upon a time; tu--but; mrgayâm--while hunting; vicaran--wandering; vijane--solitary; vane--in a forest; yadrcchayâ--without any program; âsrama-padam--the residential place; jamadagneh--of Jamadagni Muni; upâvisat--he entered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once while Kartaviryarjuna was wandering unengaged in a solitary forest and hunting, he approached the residence of Jamadagni.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > tasmai sa naradevâya

> > munir arhanam âharat

> > sasainyâmâtya-vâhâya

> > havismatyâ tapo-dhanah

> > tasmai--unto him; sah--he (Jamadagni); naradevâya--unto King Kârtavîryârjuna; munih--the great sage; ârhanam--paraphernalia for worship; aharat--offered; sa-sainya--with his soldiers; amâtya--his ministers; vâhâya--and the chariots, the elephants, the horses or the men who carried the palanquins; havismatyâ--because of possessing a kâmadhenu, a cow that could supply everything; tapah-dhanah--the great sage, whose only power was his austerity, or who was engaged in austerity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage Jamadagni, who was engaged in great austerities in the forest, received the King very well, along with the King's soldiers, ministers and carriers. He supplied all the necessities to worship these guests, for he possessed a kamadhenu cow that was able to supply everything.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > sa vai ratnam tu tad drstvâ

> > âtmaisvaryâtisâyanam

> > tan nâdriyatâgnihotryâm

> > sâbhilâsah sahaihayah

> > sah--he (Kârtavîryârjuna); vai--indeed; ratnam--a great source of wealth; tu--indeed; tat--the kâmadhenu in the possession of Jamadagni; drstvâ--by observing; âtma-aisvarya--his own personal opulence; ati-sâyanam--which was exceeding; tat--that; na--not; âdriyata--appreciated very much; agnihotryâm--in that cow, which was useful for executing the agnihotra sacrifice; sa-abhilâsah--became desirous; sa-haihayah--with his own men, the Haihayas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kartaviryarjuna thought that Jamadagni was more powerful and wealthy than himself because of possessing a jewel in the form of the kamadhenu. Therefore he and his own men, the Haihayas, were not very much appreciative of Jamadagni's reception. On the contrary, they wanted to possess that kamadhenu, which was useful for the execution of the agnihotra sacrifice.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > havirdhânîm rser darpân

> > narân hartum acodayat

> > te ca mâhismatîm ninyuh

> > sa-vatsâm krandatîm balât

> > havih-dhânîm--the kâmadhenu; rseh--of the great sage Jamadagni; darpât--because of his being puffed up with material power; narân--all his men (soldiers); hartum--to steal or take away; acodayat--encouraged; te--the men of Kârtavîryârjuna; ca--also; mâhismatîm--to the capital of Kârtavîryârjuna; ninyuh--brought; sa-vatsâm--with the calf; krandatîm--crying; balât--because of being taken away by force.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being puffed up by material power, Kartaviryarjuna encouraged his men to steal Jamadagni's kamadhenu. Thus the men forcibly took away the crying kamadhenu, along with her calf, to Mahismati, Kartaviryarjuna's capital.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > atha râjani niryâte

> > râma âsrama âgatah

> > srutvâ tat tasya daurâtmyam

> > cukrodhâhir ivâhatah

> > atha--thereafter; râjani--when the King; niryâte--had gone away; râmah--Parasurâma, the youngest son of Jamadagni; âsrame--in the cottage; âgatah--returned; srutvâ--when he heard; tat--that; tasya--of Kârtavîryârjuna; daurâtmyam--nefarious act; cukrodha--became extremely angry; ahih--a snake; iva--like; âhatah--trampled or injured.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Kartaviryarjuna having left with the kamadhenu, Parasurama returned to the asrama. When Parasurama, the youngest son of Jamadagni, heard about Kartaviryarjuna's nefarious deed, he became as angry as a trampled snake.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > ghoram âdâya parasum

> > satûnam varma kârmukam

> > anvadhâvata durmarso

> > mrgendra iva yûthapam

> > ghoram--extremely fierce; âdâya--taking in hand; parasum--a chopper; sa-tûnam--along with a quiver; varma--a shield; kârmukam--a bow; anvadhâvata--followed; durmarsah--Lord Parasurâma, being exceedingly angry; mrgendrah--a lion; iva--like; yûthapam--(goes to attack) an elephant.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Taking up his fierce chopper, his shield, his bow and a quiver of arrows, Lord Parasurama, exceedingly angry, chased Kartaviryarjuna just as a lion chases an elephant.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > tam âpatantam bhrgu-varyam ojasâ

> > dhanur-dharam bâna-parasvadhâyudham

> > aineya-carmâmbaram arka-dhâmabhir

> > yutam jatâbhir dadrse purîm visan

> > tam--that Lord Parasurâma; âpatantam--coming after him; bhrgu-varyam--the best of the Bhrgu dynasty, Lord Parasurâma; ojasâ--very fiercely; dhanuh-dharam--carrying a bow; bâna--arrows; parasvadha--chopper; âyudham--having all these weapons; aineya-carma--blackish deerskin; ambaram--the covering of his body; arka-dhâmabhih--appearing like the sunshine; yutam jatâbhih--with locks of hair; dadrse--he saw; purîm--into the capital; visan--entering.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As King Kartaviryarjuna entered his capital, Mahismati Puri, he saw Lord Parasurama, the best of the Bhrgu dynasty, coming after him, holding a chopper, shield, bow and arrows. Lord Parasurama was covered with a black deerskin, and his matted locks of hair appeared like the sunshine.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > acodayad dhasti-rathâsva-pattibhir

> > gadâsi-bânarsti-sataghni-saktibhih

> > aksauhinîh sapta-dasâtibhîsanâs

> > tâ râma eko bhagavân asûdayat

> > acodayat--he sent for fighting; hasti--with elephants; ratha--with chariots; asva--with horses; pattibhih--and with infantry; gadâ--with clubs; asi--with swords; bâna--with arrows; rsti--with the weapons called rstis; sataghni--with weapons called sataghnis; saktibhih--with weapons called saktis; aksauhinîh--whole groups of aksauhinîs; sapta-dasa--seventeen; ati-bhîsanâh--very fierce; tâh--all of them; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; ekah--alone; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asûdayat--killed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon seeing Parasurama, Kartaviryarjuna immediately feared him and sent many elephants, chariots, horses and infantry soldiers equipped with clubs, swords, arrows, rstis, sataghnis, saktis, and many similar weapons to fight against him. Kartaviryarjuna sent seventeen full aksauhinis of soldiers to check Parasurama. But Lord Parasurama alone killed all of them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > yato yato 'sau praharat-parasvadho

> > mano-'nilaujâh para-cakra-sûdanah

> > tatas tatas chinna-bhujoru-kandharâ

> > nipetur urvyâm hata-sûta-vâhanâh

> > yatah--wherever; yatah--wherever; asau--Lord Parasurâma; praharat--slashing; parasvadhah--being expert in using his weapon, the parasu, or chopper; manah--like the mind; anila--like the wind; ojâh--being forceful; para-cakra--of the enemies' military strength; sûdanah--killer; tatah--there; tatah--and there; chinna--scattered and cut off; bhuja--arms; ûru--legs; kandharâh--shoulders; nipetuh--fell down; urvyâm--on the ground; hata--killed; sûta--chariot drivers; vâhanâh--carrier horses and elephants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Parasurama, being expert in killing the military strength of the enemy, worked with the speed of the mind and the wind, slicing his enemies with his chopper [parasu]. Wherever he went, the enemies fell, their legs, arms and shoulders being severed, their chariot drivers killed, and their carriers, the elephants and horses all annihilated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > drstvâ sva-sainyam rudhiraugha-kardame

> > ranâjire râma-kuthâra-sâyakaih

> > vivrkna-varma-dhvaja-câpa-vigraham

> > nipâtitam haihaya âpatad rusâ

> > drstvâ--by seeing; sva-sainyam--his own soldiers; rudhira-ogha-kardame--which had become muddy due to the flow of blood; rana-ajire--on the battlefield; râma-kuthâra--by the axe of Lord Parasurâma; sâyakaih--and by the arrows; vivrkna--scattered; varma--the shields; dhvaja--the flags; câpa--bows; vigraham--the bodies; nipâtitam--fallen; haihayah--Kârtavîryârjuna; âpatat--forcefully came there; rusâ--being very angry.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By manipulating his axe and arrows, Lord Parasurama cut to pieces the shields, flags, bows and bodies of Kartaviryarjuna's soldiers, who fell on the battlefield, muddying the ground with their blood. Seeing these reverses, Kartaviryarjuna, infuriated, rushed to the battlefield.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > athârjunah panca-satesu bâhubhir

> > dhanuhsu bânân yugapat sa sandadhe

> > râmâya râmo 'stra-bhrtâm samagranîs

> > tâny eka-dhanvesubhir âcchinat samam

> > atha--thereafter; arjunah--Kârtavîryârjuna; panca-satesu--five hundred; bâhubhih--with his arms; dhanuhsu--on the bows; bânân--arrows; yugapat--simultaneously; sah--he; sandadhe--fixed; râmâya--just to kill Lord Parasurâma; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; astra-bhrtâm--of all the soldiers who could use weapons; samagranîh--the very best; tâni--all the bows of Kârtavîryârjuna; eka-dhanvâ--possessing one bow; isubhih--the arrows; âcchinat--cut to pieces; samam--with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then Kartaviryarjuna, with his one thousand arms, simultaneously fixed arrows on five hundred bows to kill Lord Parasurama. But Lord Parasurama, the best of fighters, released enough arrows with only one bow to cut to pieces immediately all the arrows and bows in the hands of Kartaviryarjuna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > punah sva-hastair acalân mrdhe 'nghripân

> > utksipya vegâd abhidhâvato yudhi

> > bhujân kuthârena kathora-neminâ

> > ciccheda râmah prasabham tv aher iva

> > punah--again; sva-hastaih--by his own hands; acalân--hills; mrdhe--in the battlefield; anghripân--trees; utksipya--after uprooting; vegât--with great force; abhidhâvatah--of he who was running very forcefully; yudhi--in the battlefield; bhujân--all the arms; kuthârena--by his axe; kathora-neminâ--which was very sharp; ciccheda--cut to pieces; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; prasabham--with great force; tu--but; aheh iva--just like the hoods of a serpent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When his arrows were cut to pieces, Kartaviryarjuna uprooted many trees and hills with his own hands and again rushed strongly toward Lord Parasurama to kill him. But Parasurama then used his axe with great force to cut off Kartaviryarjuna's arms, just as one might lop off the hoods of a serpent.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 35-36

> > krtta-bâhoh siras tasya

> > gireh srngam ivâharat

> > hate pitari tat-putrâ

> > ayutam dudruvur bhayât

> > agnihotrîm upâvartya

> > savatsâm para-vîra-hâ

> > samupetyâsramam pitre

> > pariklistâm samarpayat

> > krtta-bâhoh--of Kârtavîryârjuna, whose arms were cut off; sirah--the head; tasya--of him (Kârtavîryârjuna); gireh--of a mountain; srngam--the peak; iva--like; âharat--(Parasurâma) cut from his body; hate pitari--when their father was killed; tat-putrâh--his sons; ayutam--ten thousand; dudruvuh--fled; bhayât--out of fear;

> > agnihotrîm--the kâmadhenu; upâvartya--bringing near; sa-vatsâm--with her calf; para-vîra-hâ--Parasurâma, who could kill the heroes of the enemies; samupetya--after returning; âsramam--to the residence of his father; pitre--unto his father; pariklistâm--which had undergone extreme suffering; samarpayat--delivered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Parasurama cut off like a mountain peak the head of Kartaviryarjuna, who had already lost his arms. When Kartaviryarjuna's ten thousand sons saw their father killed, they all fled in fear. Then Parasurama, having killed the enemy, released the kamadhenu, which had undergone great suffering, and brought it back with its calf to his residence, where he gave it to his father, Jamadagni.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > sva-karma tat krtam râmah

> > pitre bhrâtrbhya eva ca

> > varnayâm âsa tac chrutvâ

> > jamadagnir abhâsata

> > sva-karma--his own activities; tat--all those deeds; krtam--which had been performed; râmah--Parasurâma; pitre--unto his father; bhrâtrbhyah--unto his brothers; eva ca--as well as; varnayâm âsa--described; tat--that; srutvâ--after hearing; jamadagnih--the father of Parasurâma; abhâsata--said as follows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Parasurama described to his father and brothers his activities in killing Kartaviryarjuna. Upon hearing of these deeds, Jamadagni spoke to his son as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > râma râma mahâbâho

> > bhavân pâpam akârasît

> > avadhîn naradevam yat

> > sarva-devamayam vrthâ

> > râma râma--my dear son Parasurâma; mahâbâho--O great hero; bhavân--you; pâpam--sinful activities; akârasît--have executed; avadhît--have killed; naradevam--the king; yat--who is; sarva-deva-mayam--the embodiment of all the demigods; vrthâ--unnecessarily.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O great hero, my dear son Parasurama, you have unnecessarily killed the king, who is supposed to be the embodiment of all the demigods. Thus you have committed a sin.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > vayam hi brâhmanâs tâta

> > ksamayârhanatâm gatâh

> > yayâ loka-gurur devah

> > pâramesthyam agât padam

> > vayam--we; hi--indeed; brâhmanâh--are qualified brâhmanas; tâta--O my dear son; ksamayâ--with the quality of forgiveness; arhanatâm--the position of being worshiped; gatâh--we have achieved; yayâ--by this qualification; loka-guruh--the spiritual master of this universe; devah--Lord Brahmâ; pâramesthyam--the supreme person within this universe; agât--achieved; padam--the position.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, we are all brahmanas and have become worshipable for the people in general because of our quality of forgiveness. It is because of this quality that Lord Brahma, the supreme spiritual master of this universe, has achieved his post.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > ksamayâ rocate laksmîr

> > brâhmî saurî yathâ prabhâ

> > ksaminâm âsu bhagavâms

> > tusyate harir îsvarah

> > ksamayâ--simply by forgiving; rocate--becomes pleasing; laksmîh--the goddess of fortune; brâhmî--in connection with brahminical qualifications; saurî--the sun-god; yathâ--as; prabhâ--the sunshine; ksaminâm--unto the brâhmanas, who are so forgiving; âsu--very soon; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tusyate--becomes pleased; harih--the Lord; îsvarah--the supreme controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > râjno mûrdhâbhisiktasya

> > vadho brahma-vadhâd guruh

> > tîrtha-samsevayâ câmho

> > jahy angâcyuta-cetanah

> > râjnah--of the king; mûrdha-abhisiktasya--who is noted as the emperor; vadhah--the killing; brahma-vadhât--than killing a brâhmana; guruh--more severe; tîrtha-samsevayâ--by worshiping the holy places; ca--also; amhah--the sinful act; jahi--wash out; anga--O my dear son; acyuta-cetanah--being fully Krsna conscious.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, killing a king who is an emperor is more severely sinful than killing a brahmana. But now, if you become Krsna conscious and worship the holy places, you can atone for this great sin.

> > Back to the running text