Chapter 15 - The Story of Paraśurāma—Sahasrārjuna Slain

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Purūravas, the son of Ilā, had six sons by Ūrvaśī, Oh King. They were Āyu, Śrutāyu, Satyāyu, Raya, Vijaya and Jaya.

2. Śrutāyu’s son was Vasumān; Śrutañjaya was Satya’s son. Raya’s son was Eka, and Jaya’s son was Amita.

3. Vijaya had a son called Bhīma whose son was Kañcana from whom was born Hotraka. His son was Jahnu who took all the waters of the Gaṅgā in his folded palms, and drank up the whole river. Jahnu’s son was Puru, whose son was Balāka and his son was Ajaka.

4. From him (Ajaka) was born Kuśa who had four sons viz. Kuśāmbu, Tanaya (v.l. Mūrtaya), Vasu and Kuśanābha. Kuśāmbu’s son was Gādhi.

5. A Brāhmaṇa called Ṛcīka sought Gādhi’s daughter, princess Satyavatī in marriage. Considering that the bridegroom was unworthy of her, king Gādhi spoke to Ṛcīka of the Bhṛgu clan:

6. “We belong to the race of Kuśa, and as such one thousand horses white and bright like the moon, but with one black ear be given as the dowry for the girl.”

7. When he was thus replied, he understood the intention of Gādhi. Having approached Varuṇa, he brought and delivered the required horses of the said description and married that lovely princess.

8. The sage Ṛcīka was solicited by his wife and by his mother-in-law both of whom were desirous of having a son. He prepared Caru—an oblation of rice, barley and pulse boiled in butter and milk for presentations to gods—consecrated them severally—the one, for his wife, with Brāhma mantras, and the other, for his mother-in-law, consecrated with Kṣātra mantras. And then the sage went for having his bath.

9. In the meanwhile (during his absence), Satyavatī, was requested by her mother (to give her) the Caru (sacrificial boiled rice) meant for Satyavatī herself, considering that to be superior. She gave that Caru (meant for herself) to her mother, and ate the one apportioned for her mother.

10. On learning of this (exchange of Carus), the sage told his wife, “Alas! What grievous mistake you have committed! Your son will be a terrible chastiser (like god of death), and your brother will be a prominent knower of Brahman (the Vedas or the Supreme Deity).

11. Propitiated by persuasive prayer that such eventuality should not materialise, sage Ṛcīka of the Bhṛgu clan said, “If so, your grandson will be of that nature”. Then Jamadagni was born.

12. Then Satyavatī was transformed into a very sacred river Kauśikī, the sanctifier of the world. The tradition goes that Jamadagni married Reṇukā, the daughter of (King) Reṇu.

13. They say that several sons like Vasumat and others were begotten on her by the sage Jamadagni of the Bhṛgu clan. The youngest of them born was the great celebrity Rāma (Paraśurāma).

14.^[1] They say that he was a ray (aṃśa) of Vāsudeva (Lord Viṣṇu) and the exterminator of the Haihaya clan. He is said to have rendered this earth devoid of Kṣatriyas twenty-one times.

15. He destroyed the wicked Kṣatriya race turned inimical to Brāhmaṇas, and constituted as if a burden to the earth. Even on the slightest provocation or commission of a slight offence, he killed the Kṣattriyas enveloped by (i.e. full of) rajas and tamas.

The king (Parīkṣit) asked:

16. What offence against that glorious sage (Paraśurāma) was committed by Kṣatriyas of uncontrolled nature that led to the repeated extermination of the entire Kṣatriya race (by him)?

Śrī Śuka narrated:

17. Arjuna, a prominent Kṣatriya and the ruler of Haihayas (a branch of Yādavas) propitiated Datta (Dattātreya), a partial (aṃśa) incarnation of Lord Nārāyaṇa, by rendering to him various acts of service (and worship).

18-19. Through him (Datta’s grace), he secured a thousand arms, unassailable formidability against the enemies, uninterrupted and insuperable power of senses and organs, splendour, affluence, glory, prowess, fame, physical strength, mastery over yoga including supreme spiritual powers characterised by the capacity to assume atomic size etc. His movements and speed being thus unimpeded, he moved about the world free as a wind.

20. While sporting in the waters of the Narmadā, in company of (lit. surrounded by) jewel-like (charming) women, and wearing the Vaijayantī wreath (of nine well-known gems) he, being intoxicated with pride, obstructed the course of the river with his one thousand arms.

21. (Rāvaṇa was on his expedition of the world conquest and was camping on the bank of the Narmadā, near Māhiṣmatī, Sahasrārjuna’s capital and was then engaged in worship). Finding his encampment flooded with the waters of the river flowing in the opposite direction, Rāvaṇa, the tenheaded demon, who regarded himself as the only hero in the world, did not tolerate that (display of) prowess (by Sahasrārjuna).

22. When Rāvaṇa (tried to attack him during the water-sports and thus) offended Sahasrārjuna, he (Rāvaṇa) was sportively seized in the very presence of women, and was kept captive like a monkey at his capital Māhiṣmatī and was (ultimately) let off as a worthless fellow.

23. On one occasion, while Arjuna was on a hunting expedition in an impassable forest, he perchance, happened to come to the precincts of the hermitage of the sage Jamadagni.

24. Through the grace of his Kāmadhenu (wish-yielding cow), the sage whose wealth was (nothing but his) penance, however, offered a warm reception (with due formalities) to the king, his ministers, men in his army and even the animals that carried them.

25. Finding the affluence of the sage far surpassing his own, the warrior who was accompanied by his Haihaya clansmen, cherished covetousness for the wish-yielding cow which was essential for maintaining sacrificial fires (agnihotra), and did not appreciate the warm hospitality.

26. Out of arrogance and pride, he commanded his men to take away the sage’s cow of plenty (which yielded milk, ghee etc. as oblations to sacrificial fires), and they forcibly carried off the screaming cow and her calf to (the king’s capital) Māhiṣmatī.

27. After the king’s departure, (Paraśu) -Rāma arrived at the hermitage. Being informed of the act of wickedness of the king, he got enraged like a serpent that is hit.

28. Equipping himself with his formidable axe, a bow with quivers and a shield, the irresistible hero rushed after him like a lion chasing a king elephant of a herd.

29. As Arjuna was entering his capital, he noticed the prominent Bhṛgu, Paraśurāma bearing a bow and armed with arrows and an axe, wearing a black deer-skin and with matted hair resplendent like the sun, rushing (after him) with an irresistible force.

30. (To oppose him) Arjuna directed seventeen very formidable divisions (akṣauhiṇī)^[2] consisting of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry equipped with maces, swords, arrows, javelins, Śataghnīs (a rocket-like missile or a cylindrical block of wood studded with iron pikes) and darts or lances (Śaktis). But the glorious Lord Rāma singlehandedly slaughtered them all.

31. In whatever direction, Rāma, the destroyer of hostile forces, moved with the velocity of the wind and mind, striking down with his axe, there fell down on the ground enemies with their arms, thighs and necks chopped off and their charioteers and animals slain.

32. Perceiving that his army is laid low on the battlefield in the mire caused by streams of blood, with their shields, flags, bows and bodies minced down by the axe and shafts of Rāma, the Haihaya King Arjuna, rushed forward in rage.

33. Now Arjuna (being thousand-armed) simultaneously fitted shafts on five hundred bows in order to discharge them at Rāma. But Rāma, the undisputed leader of all whoever wielded missiles, with one bow in his hand at once—synchronously—cut down all Arjuna’s bow and arrows with his shafts.

34. In that fight, while Arjuna was rushing towards Rāma uprooting rocks and trees with his (numerous) hands (to hurl them at Rāma), Rāma forestalled him and quickly cut down his arms like the hoods of serpents, with his axe of a hard and sharp edge.

35. After lopping off all his arms, Rāma chopped off Arjuna’s head like the peak of a mountain. When their father was thus killed, Arjuna’s ten thousand sons ran away in panic.

36. Rāma, the subduer of hostile forces, restored the cow (essential for the maintenance of Agnihotra) along with her calf. Returning to his hermitage, he duly presented the afflicted cow to his father.

37. Rāma, described to his father and brothers (Arjuna’s moves) and his exploits; but the sage Jamadagni (disapprovingly) remarked:

38. “(Dear) Rāma! Oh Rāma of mighty arms! You have committed a sin. You have unnecessarily killed a king (a god among men) who represents all gods in his person.

39. Oh dear child! We are Brāhmaṇas! We have become objects of veneration and worship through forbearance, just as god Brahmā, the creator of the world, has attained to the status of Parameṣṭhī (the supreme ruler of the world) through forgiveness.

40. It is on account of forgiveness and patience that the Brāhmanic glory shines like the splendour of the sun. Even glorious Lord Hari, the Ruler of the Universe, become seasily pleased with persons of forgiving spirits.

41. Slaying of a king whose head is consecrated in coronation, is more heinous than that of killing a Brāhmaṇa. Oh child! Now expiate your sin by bathing in holy waters, devoting your mind (all the while) to Lord Viṣṇu (Acyuta).”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Bhāgavata Purāṇa contains two main legends from the life of Paraśurāma viz. 1. The slaying of Kārtavīrya or Sahasrārjuna and 2. Beheading his mother and brothers and reviving them.

The legends of Paraśurāma narrated here are found in Mahābhārata Ādi. 2.4-7 64.4; Āśvamedhika chs. 29 & 30 and in Brahmāṇḍa P. II.26-40.

[2]:

For the details of the strength of an akṣauhiṇī vide Bhāgavata Purāṇa VII.I. P. 71 ftn. No. 271.