Parashurama, the Lord's Warrior Incarnation

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.15.1)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच ऐलस्य चोर्वशीगर्भात् षडासन्नात्मजा नृप । आयुः श्रुतायुः सत्यायू रयोऽथ विजयो जयः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca ailasya corvaśī-garbhāt ṣaḍ āsann ātmajā nṛpa āyuḥ śrutāyuḥ satyāyū rayo ’tha vijayo jayaḥ

Shri Badarayani said: O king, from the womb of Urvashi, Aila had six sons: Ayu, Shrutayu, Satyayu, Raya, Vijaya and Jaya.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.15.2)

श्रुतायोर्वसुमान् पुत्रः सत्यायोश्च श्रुतञ्जयः । रयस्य सुत एकश्च जयस्य तनयोऽमितः ॥ २ ॥

śrutāyor vasumān putraḥ satyāyoś ca śrutañjayaḥ rayasya suta ekaś ca jayasya tanayo ’mitaḥ

Shrutayu's son was Vasuman; Satyayu's son Shrutanjaya; Raya's son was Eka; and Jaya's son, Amita.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.15.3)

भीमस्तु विजयस्याथ काञ्चनो होत्रकस्ततः । तस्य जह्नुः सुतो गङ्गां गण्डूषीकृत्य योऽपिबत् ॥ ३ ॥

bhīmas tu vijayasyātha kāñcano hotrakas tataḥ tasya jahnuḥ suto gaṅgāṁ gaṇḍūṣī-kṛtya yo ’pibat

Vijaya's son was Bhima; his son Kanchana; his son Hotraka; and his son was Jahnu, who once drank up the entire Ganga in a single mouthful.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.15.4)

जह्नोस्तु पुरुस्तस्याथ बलाकश्चात्मजोऽजकः । ततः कुशः कुशस्यापि कुशाम्बुस्तनयो वसुः । कुशनाभश्च चत्वारो गाधिरासीत् कुशाम्बुजः ॥ ४ ॥

jahnos tu purus tasyātha balākaś cātmajo ’jakaḥ tataḥ kuśaḥ kuśasyāpi kuśāmbus tanayo vasuḥ kuśanābhaś ca catvāro gādhir āsīt kuśāmbujaḥ

Jahnu's son was Puru; his son Balaka; his son Ajaka; his son Kusha. Kusha had four sons — Kushambu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kushanabha; and from Kushambu came Gadhi.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.15.5)

तस्य सत्यवतीं कन्यामृचीकोऽयाचत द्विजः । वरं विसदृशं मत्वा गाधिर्भार्गवमब्रवीत् ॥ ५ ॥

tasya satyavatīṁ kanyām ṛcīko ’yācata dvijaḥ varaṁ visadṛśaṁ matvā gādhir bhārgavam abravīt

The brahmana sage Richika sought Gadhi's daughter Satyavati in marriage; considering him an unequal match, Gadhi said to the descendant of Bhrigu —

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.15.6)

एकतः श्यामकर्णानां हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम् । सहस्रं दीयतां शुल्कं कन्यायाः कुशिका वयम् ॥ ६ ॥

ekataḥ śyāma-karṇānāṁ hayānāṁ candra-varcasām sahasraṁ dīyatāṁ śulkaṁ kanyāyāḥ kuśikā vayam

"We are of the line of Kushika; as bride-price for my daughter, bring a thousand horses, each moon-bright in color, each with one black ear."

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.15.7)

इत्युक्तस्तन्मतं ज्ञात्वा गतः स वरुणान्तिकम् । आनीय दत्त्वा तानश्वानुपयेमे वराननाम् ॥ ७ ॥

ity uktas tan-mataṁ jñātvā gataḥ sa varuṇāntikam ānīya dattvā tān aśvān upayeme varānanām

On hearing this, and understanding the king's intent, Richika went to Varuna, brought back those very horses, gave them over, and married the lovely-faced maiden.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.15.8)

स ऋषिः प्रार्थितः पत्न्या श्वश्र्वा चापत्यकाम्यया । श्रपयित्वोभयैर्मन्त्रैश्चरुं स्नातुं गतो मुनिः ॥ ८ ॥

sa ṛṣiḥ prārthitaḥ patnyā śvaśrvā cāpatya-kāmyayā śrapayitvobhayair mantraiś caruṁ snātuṁ gato muniḥ

Requested by both his wife and his mother-in-law, each desiring a son, the sage prepared two sacred oblations — one with a brahmana mantra, one with a kshatriya mantra — and then went out to bathe.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.15.9)

तावत् सत्यवती मात्रा स्वचरुं याचिता सती । श्रेष्ठं मत्वा तयायच्छन्मात्रे मातुरदत् स्वयम् ॥ ९ ॥

tāvat satyavatī mātrā sva-caruṁ yācitā satī śreṣṭhaṁ matvā tayāyacchan mātre mātur adat svayam

Meanwhile, Satyavati's mother, believing her daughter's oblation to be the finer one, asked for it; the virtuous Satyavati gave it to her mother and herself ate her mother's portion instead.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.15.10)

तद् विदित्वा मुनिः प्राह पत्नीं कष्टमकारषीः । घोरो दण्डधरः पुत्रो भ्राता ते ब्रह्मवित्तमः ॥ १० ॥

tad viditvā muniḥ prāha patnīṁ kaṣṭam akāraṣīḥ ghoro daṇḍa-dharaḥ putro bhrātā te brahma-vittamaḥ

Learning of this on his return, the sage said to his wife: "You have done something grave. Your son will now be a fierce wielder of punishment, and your brother will instead be the greatest knower of sacred wisdom."

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.15.11)

प्रसादितः सत्यवत्या मैवं भूरिति भार्गवः । अथ तर्हि भवेत् पौत्रो जमदग्निस्ततोऽभवत् ॥ ११ ॥

prasāditaḥ satyavatyā maivaṁ bhūr iti bhārgavaḥ atha tarhi bhavet pautro jamadagnis tato ’bhavat

Satyavati pleaded with him that it not be so; the descendant of Bhrigu relented, saying, "Then let it fall instead upon your grandson." From her was then born Jamadagni.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.15.12)

सा चाभूत् सुमहत्पुण्या कौशिकी लोकपावनी । रेणोः सुतां रेणुकां वै जमदग्निरुवाह याम् ॥ १२ ॥

sā cābhūt sumahat-puṇyā kauśikī loka-pāvanī reṇoḥ sutāṁ reṇukāṁ vai jamadagnir uvāha yām

Satyavati herself later became the greatly sacred, world-purifying river Kaushiki; and Jamadagni took as wife Renuka, the daughter of Renu.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.15.13)

तस्यां वै भार्गवऋषेः सुता वसुमदादयः । यवीयाञ्जज्ञ एतेषां राम इत्यभिविश्रुतः ॥ १३ ॥

tasyāṁ vai bhārgava-ṛṣeḥ sutā vasumad-ādayaḥ yavīyāñ jajña eteṣāṁ rāma ity abhiviśrutaḥ

By her, the sage of the Bhrigu line had sons headed by Vasuman; the youngest of them, celebrated by the name Rama, was born last.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.15.14)

यमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं हैहयानां कुलान्तकम् । त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो य इमां चक्रे निःक्षत्रियां महीम् ॥ १४ ॥

yam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ haihayānāṁ kulāntakam triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo ya imāṁ cakre niḥkṣatriyāṁ mahīm

He is declared to be a portion of Vasudeva himself, the destroyer of the Haihaya dynasty, who twenty-one times over rid this earth of its kshatriyas.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.15.15)

दृप्तं क्षत्रं भुवो भारमब्रह्मण्यमनीनशत् । रजस्तमोवृतमहन् फल्गुन्यपि कृतेꣷहसि ॥ १५ ॥

dṛptaṁ kṣatraṁ bhuvo bhāram abrahmaṇyam anīnaśat rajas-tamo-vṛtam ahan phalguny api kṛte ’ṁhasi

Overtaken by passion and ignorance, the arrogant, faithless kshatriya class, a burden upon the earth, was destroyed by him — even though their offense was slight.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.15.16)

श्रीराजोवाच किं तदंहो भगवतो राजन्यैरजितात्मभिः । कृतं येन कुलं नष्टं क्षत्रियाणामभीक्ष्णशः ॥ १६ ॥

śrī-rājovāca kiṁ tad aṁho bhagavato rājanyair ajitātmabhiḥ kṛtaṁ yena kulaṁ naṣṭaṁ kṣatriyāṇām abhīkṣṇaśaḥ

The king asked: What was that offense the unrestrained kshatriyas committed against the Lord, for which their line was destroyed again and again?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.15.17)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच हैहयानामधिपतिरर्जुनः क्षत्रियर्षभः । दत्तं नारायणांशांशमाराध्य परिकर्मभिः ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca haihayānām adhipatir arjunaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ dattaṁ nārāyaṇāṁśāṁśam ārādhya parikarmabhiḥ

Shri Badarayani said: Arjuna, lord of the Haihayas and foremost of kshatriyas, worshiped Dattatreya, a partial expansion of Narayana, with devoted service —

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.15.18)

बाहून् दशशतं लेभे दुर्धर्षत्वमरातिषु । अव्याहतेन्द्रियौजःश्रीतेजोवीर्ययशोबलम् ॥ १८ ॥

bāhūn daśa-śataṁ lebhe durdharṣatvam arātiṣu avyāhatendriyaujaḥ śrī- tejo-vīrya-yaśo-balam

and thereby obtained a thousand arms, invincibility against enemies, unimpaired power of the senses, prosperity, splendor, valor, fame and strength —

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.15.19)

योगेश्वरत्वमैश्वर्यं गुणा यत्राणिमादयः । चचाराव्याहतगतिर्लोकेषु पवनो यथा ॥ १९ ॥

yogeśvaratvam aiśvaryaṁ guṇā yatrāṇimādayaḥ cacārāvyāhata-gatir lokeṣu pavano yathā

as well as mastery in yoga and the mystic powers beginning with animā; thus, moving unopposed through the worlds, he ranged about like the very wind.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.15.20)

स्त्रीरत्नैरावृतः क्रीडन् रेवाम्भसि मदोत्कटः । वैजयन्तीं स्रजं बिभ्रद् रुरोध सरितं भुजैः ॥ २० ॥

strī-ratnair āvṛtaḥ krīḍan revāmbhasi madotkaṭaḥ vaijayantīṁ srajaṁ bibhrad rurodha saritaṁ bhujaiḥ

Once, intoxicated with pride, sporting in the waters of the Narmada surrounded by jewel-like women and wearing his victory garland, he blocked the river's flow with his very arms.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.15.21)

विप्लावितं स्वशिबिरं प्रतिस्रोतःसरिज्जलैः । नामृष्यत् तस्य तद् वीर्यं वीरमानी दशाननः ॥ २१ ॥

viplāvitaṁ sva-śibiraṁ pratisrotaḥ-sarij-jalaiḥ nāmṛṣyat tasya tad vīryaṁ vīramānī daśānanaḥ

As the water thus turned back and flooded his own camp, ten-headed Ravana, who thought himself a hero, could not bear this display of Kartavirya's power.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.15.22)

गृहीतो लीलया स्त्रीणां समक्षं कृतकिल्बिषः । माहिष्मत्यां सन्निरुद्धो मुक्तो येन कपिर्यथा ॥ २२ ॥

gṛhīto līlayā strīṇāṁ samakṣaṁ kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ māhiṣmatyāṁ sanniruddho mukto yena kapir yathā

For this offense, committed before the eyes of his women, Kartavirya seized Ravana with ease, held him captive in Mahishmati as one holds a captured monkey, and then let him go.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.15.23)

स एकदा तु मृगयां विचरन् विजने वने । यदृच्छयाश्रमपदं जमदग्नेरुपाविशत् ॥ २३ ॥

sa ekadā tu mṛgayāṁ vicaran vijane vane yadṛcchayāśrama-padaṁ jamadagner upāviśat

Once, while wandering the lonely forest on a hunt, Kartavirya chanced to come upon the hermitage of Jamadagni.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.15.24)

तस्मै स नरदेवाय मुनिरर्हणमाहरत् । ससैन्यामात्यवाहाय हविष्मत्या तपोधनः ॥ २४ ॥

tasmai sa naradevāya munir arhaṇam āharat sasainyāmātya-vāhāya haviṣmatyā tapo-dhanaḥ

The sage, rich in austerity, welcomed that king of men — along with his soldiers, ministers and mounts — offering hospitality through the power of his wish-fulfilling cow.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.15.25)

स वै रत्नं तु तद् दृष्ट्वा आत्मैश्वर्यातिशायनम् । तन्नाद्रियताग्निहोत्र्यां साभिलाषः सहैहयः ॥ २५ ॥

sa vai ratnaṁ tu tad dṛṣṭvā ātmaiśvaryātiśāyanam tan nādriyatāgnihotryāṁ sābhilāṣaḥ sahaihayaḥ

But seeing that jewel of a cow, which surpassed even his own opulence, Kartavirya took no delight in the reception; instead he and his Haihayas grew covetous of the agnihotra-cow.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.15.26)

हविर्धानीमृषेर्दर्पान्नरान् हर्तुमचोदयत् । ते च माहिष्मतीं निन्युः सवत्सां क्रन्दतीं बलात् ॥ २६ ॥

havirdhānīm ṛṣer darpān narān hartum acodayat te ca māhiṣmatīṁ ninyuḥ sa-vatsāṁ krandatīṁ balāt

In his pride, he ordered his men to seize the sage's oblation-cow; they forcibly carried her off, crying out, together with her calf, to Mahishmati.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.15.27)

अथ राजनि निर्याते राम आश्रम आगतः । श्रुत्वा तत् तस्य दौरात्म्यं चुक्रोधाहिरिवाहतः ॥ २७ ॥

atha rājani niryāte rāma āśrama āgataḥ śrutvā tat tasya daurātmyaṁ cukrodhāhir ivāhataḥ

After the king had left, Parashurama returned to the hermitage; hearing of this vile deed, he grew as furious as a trodden serpent.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.15.28)

घोरमादाय परशुं सतूणं वर्म कार्मुकम् । अन्वधावत दुर्मर्षो मृगेन्द्र इव यूथपम् ॥ २८ ॥

ghoram ādāya paraśuṁ satūṇaṁ varma kārmukam anvadhāvata durmarṣo mṛgendra iva yūthapam

Taking up his fearsome axe, quiver, armor and bow, unable to bear it, he pursued him as a lion pursues the leader of a herd.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.9.15.29)

तमापतन्तं भृगुवर्यमोजसा धनुर्धरं बाणपरश्वधायुधम् । ऐणेयचर्माम्बरमर्कधामभि- र्युतं जटाभिर्ददृशे पुरीं विशन् ॥ २९ ॥

tam āpatantaṁ bhṛgu-varyam ojasā dhanur-dharaṁ bāṇa-paraśvadhāyudham aiṇeya-carmāmbaram arka-dhāmabhir yutaṁ jaṭābhir dadṛśe purīṁ viśan

As Kartavirya entered his own city, he saw that foremost of the Bhrigus bearing down on him with force, bow in hand, armed with arrows and axe, clad in black deerskin, his matted locks shining like the sun.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.9.15.30)

अचोदयद्धस्तिरथाश्वपत्तिभि- र्गदासिबाणर्ष्टिशतघ्निशक्तिभिः । अक्षौहिणीः सप्तदशातिभीषणा- स्ता राम एको भगवानसूदयत् ॥ ३० ॥

acodayad dhasti-rathāśva-pattibhir gadāsi-bāṇarṣṭi-śataghni-śaktibhiḥ akṣauhiṇīḥ sapta-daśātibhīṣaṇās tā rāma eko bhagavān asūdayat

He sent seventeen full divisions, most terrible with elephants, chariots, horses and infantry armed with maces, swords, arrows, spears, shataghnis and lances — yet Bhagavan Parashurama, alone, destroyed them all.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.9.15.31)

यतो यतोऽसौ प्रहरत्परश्वधो मनोऽनिलौजाः परचक्रसूदनः । ततस्ततश्छिन्नभुजोरुकन्धरा निपेतुरुर्व्यां हतसूतवाहनाः ॥ ३१ ॥

yato yato ’sau praharat-paraśvadho mano-’nilaujāḥ para-cakra-sūdanaḥ tatas tataś chinna-bhujoru-kandharā nipetur urvyāṁ hata-sūta-vāhanāḥ

Wherever that destroyer of enemy hosts struck with his axe, swift as mind and wind, there, arms, thighs and necks severed, the soldiers fell to the earth, their charioteers and mounts slain along with them.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.9.15.32)

दृष्ट्वा स्वसैन्यं रुधिरौघकर्दमे रणाजिरे रामकुठारसायकैः । विवृक्णवर्मध्वजचापविग्रहं निपातितं हैहय आपतद् रुषा ॥ ३२ ॥

dṛṣṭvā sva-sainyaṁ rudhiraugha-kardame raṇājire rāma-kuṭhāra-sāyakaiḥ vivṛkṇa-varma-dhvaja-cāpa-vigrahaṁ nipātitaṁ haihaya āpatad ruṣā

Seeing his own army felled on the mud-soaked, blood-drenched field, their armor, banners, bows and bodies hacked apart by Parashurama's axe and arrows, the lord of the Haihayas himself charged forward in fury.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.9.15.33)

अथार्जुनः पञ्चशतेषु बाहुभि- र्धनुःषु बाणान् युगपत् स सन्दधे । रामाय रामोऽस्त्रभृतां समग्रणी- स्तान्येकधन्वेषुभिराच्छिनत् समम् ॥ ३३ ॥

athārjunaḥ pañca-śateṣu bāhubhir dhanuḥṣu bāṇān yugapat sa sandadhe rāmāya rāmo ’stra-bhṛtāṁ samagraṇīs tāny eka-dhanveṣubhir ācchinat samam

Then Arjuna, with his many arms, fitted arrows to five hundred bows all at once against Rama; but Rama, foremost among wielders of weapons, with arrows shot from a single bow, cut them all down together.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.9.15.34)

पुनः स्वहस्तैरचलान् मृधेऽङ्घ्रिपा- नुत्क्षिप्य वेगादभिधावतो युधि । भुजान् कुठारेण कठोरनेमिना चिच्छेद रामः प्रसभं त्वहेरिव ॥ ३४ ॥

punaḥ sva-hastair acalān mṛdhe ’ṅghripān utkṣipya vegād abhidhāvato yudhi bhujān kuṭhāreṇa kaṭhora-neminā ciccheda rāmaḥ prasabhaṁ tv aher iva

Then, hurling up mountains and trees with his own hands, Kartavirya charged again with full force; but Rama, with his hard-rimmed axe, sheared off his arms outright, as one lops the hoods from a serpent.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.9.15.35)

कृत्तबाहोः शिरस्तस्य गिरेः शृङ्गमिवाहरत् । हते पितरि तत्पुत्रा अयुतं दुद्रुवुर्भयात् ॥ ३५ ॥

kṛtta-bāhoḥ śiras tasya gireḥ śṛṅgam ivāharat hate pitari tat-putrā ayutaṁ dudruvur bhayāt

He then struck off the head of that armless king as though lopping a mountain peak; and seeing their father slain, his ten thousand sons fled away in terror.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.9.15.36)

अग्निहोत्रीमुपावर्त्य सवत्सां परवीरहा । समुपेत्याश्रमं पित्रे परिक्लिष्टां समर्पयत् ॥ ३६ ॥

agnihotrīm upāvartya savatsāṁ para-vīra-hā samupetyāśramaṁ pitre parikliṣṭāṁ samarpayat

That slayer of enemy heroes then recovered the sacrificial cow with her calf and, returning to the hermitage, presented her — worn from her ordeal — to his father.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.9.15.37)

स्वकर्म तत्कृतं रामः पित्रे भ्रातृभ्य एव च । वर्णयामास तच्छ्रुत्वा जमदग्निरभाषत ॥ ३७ ॥

sva-karma tat kṛtaṁ rāmaḥ pitre bhrātṛbhya eva ca varṇayām āsa tac chrutvā jamadagnir abhāṣata

Rama then described to his father and brothers what he had done; hearing it, Jamadagni spoke thus to his son.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.9.15.38)

राम राम महाबाहो भवान् पापमकारषीत् । अवधीन्नरदेवं यत्सर्वदेवमयं वृथा ॥ ३८ ॥

rāma rāma mahābāho bhavān pāpam akāraṣīt avadhīn naradevaṁ yat sarva-devamayaṁ vṛthā

"O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one, you have committed a sin — you have needlessly slain a king, who embodies within himself all the gods."

Verse 39 (bhagavata.9.15.39)

वयं हि ब्राह्मणास्तात क्षमयार्हणतां गताः । यया लोकगुरुर्देवः पारमेष्ठ्यमगात् पदम् ॥ ३९ ॥

vayaṁ hi brāhmaṇās tāta kṣamayārhaṇatāṁ gatāḥ yayā loka-gurur devaḥ pārameṣṭhyam agāt padam

"We brahmanas, my son, have earned our worthiness of reverence through forbearance alone — it is by that very quality that Brahma, teacher of all the worlds, attained his supreme seat."

Verse 40 (bhagavata.9.15.40)

क्षमया रोचते लक्ष्मीर्ब्राह्मी सौरी यथा प्रभा । क्षमिणामाशु भगवांस्तुष्यते हरिरीश्वरः ॥ ४० ॥

kṣamayā rocate lakṣmīr brāhmī saurī yathā prabhā kṣamiṇām āśu bhagavāṁs tuṣyate harir īśvaraḥ

"Through forbearance a brahmana's glory shines forth, as the sun's own light shines; and Bhagavan Hari, the Lord, is swiftly pleased with those who forgive."

Verse 41 (bhagavata.9.15.41)

राज्ञो मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य वधो ब्रह्मवधाद् गुरुः । तीर्थसंसेवया चांहो जह्यङ्गाच्युतचेतनः ॥ ४१ ॥

rājño mūrdhābhiṣiktasya vadho brahma-vadhād guruḥ tīrtha-saṁsevayā cāṁho jahy aṅgācyuta-cetanaḥ

"To kill an anointed king is a graver sin even than killing a brahmana; therefore, my child, with your mind fixed upon the Unfallen One, go and wash away this sin by pilgrimage to the sacred fords."