Parasurama, the Lord's Warrior
Incarnation
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.
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.
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.
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."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 5-6 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The son of King Gadhi was Visvamitra, who was said to be a brahmana and
ksatriya combined. Visvamitra attained the status of a brahmarsi, as explained
later. From the marriage of Satyavati with Rcika Muni would come a son with the
spirit of a ksatriya. King Gadhi demanded that an uncommon request be fulfilled
before the brahmana Rcika could marry his daughter.
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.
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.
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.
PURPORT
A husband naturally has some affection for his wife. Therefore
Satyavati's mother thought that the oblation prepared for Satyavati by the sage
Rcika must have been better than her own oblation. In Rcika's absence, the
mother took the better oblation from Satyavati and ate it.
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."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 10 :PURPORT
PURPORT
A brahmana is highly qualified when he can control his senses and mind,
when he is a learned scholar in spiritual science and when he is tolerant and
forgiving. A ksatriya, however, is highly qualified when he is fierce in giving
punishment to wrongdoers. These qualities are stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.42-43).
Because Satyavati, instead of eating her own oblation, had eaten that which was
meant for her mother, she would give birth to a son imbued with the ksatriya
spirit. This was undesirable. The son of a brahmana is generally expected to
become a brahmana, but if such a son becomes fierce like a ksatriya, he is
designated according to the description of the four varnas in Bhagavad-gita
(catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah). If the son of a brahmana
does not become like a brahmana, he may be called a ksatriya, vaisya or sudra,
according to his qualifications. The basic principle for dividing society is
not a person's birth but his qualities and actions.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 11 :TEXT
TEXT 11
prasaditah satyavatya
maivam bhur iti
bhargavah
atha tarhi bhavet pautro
jamadagnis tato 'bhavat
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 11 :WORD for WORD
prasaditah--pacified; satyavatya--by
Satyavati; ma--not; evam--thus; bhuh--let it be; iti--thus; bhargavah--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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 11 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 11 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The great sage Rcika was very angry, but somehow or other Satyavati
pacified him, and at her request he changed his mind. It is indicated here that
the son of Jamadagni would be born as Parasurama.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 12-13 :TEXT
TEXT 12-13
sa cabhut sumahat-punya
kausiki loka-pavani
renoh sutam renukam vai
jamadagnir uvaha yam
tasyam vai bhargava-rseh
suta vasumad-adayah
yaviyan jajna etesam
rama ity abhivisrutah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 12-13 :WORD for WORD
sa--she (Satyavati); ca--also;
abhut--became; sumahat-punya--very great and sacred; kausiki--the river by the
name Kausiki; loka-pavani--purifying the whole world; renoh--of Renu;
sutam--the daughter; renukam--by the name Renuka; vai--indeed;
jamadagnih--Satyavati's son, Jamadagni; uvaha--married; yam--whom; tasyam--in
the womb of Renuka; vai--indeed; bhargava-rseh--by the semen of Jamadagni;
sutah--sons; vasumat-adayah--many, headed by Vasuman; yaviyan--the youngest;
jajne--was born; etesam--among them; ramah--Parasurama; iti--thus;
abhivisrutah--was known everywhere.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 12-13 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 14 :TEXT
TEXT 14
yam ahur vasudevamsam
haihayanam kulantakam
trih-sapta-krtvo ya imam
cakre nihksatriyam mahim
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 14 :WORD for WORD
yam--whom (Parasurama); ahuh--all the
learned scholars say; vasudeva-amsam--an incarnation of Vasudeva, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; haihayanam--of the Haihayas; kula-antakam--the
annihilator of the dynasty; trih-sapta-krtvah--twenty-one times; yah--who
(Parasurama); imam--this; cakre--made; nihksatriyam--devoid of ksatriyas;
mahim--the earth.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 14 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :TEXT
TEXT 15
drptam ksatram bhuvo
bharam
abrahmanyam
aninasat
rajas-tamo-vrtam ahan
phalguny api krte 'mhasi
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :WORD for WORD
drptam--very proud; ksatram--the
ksatriyas, the ruling class; bhuvah--of the earth; bharam--burden;
abrahmanyam--sinful, not caring for the religious principles enunciated by the
brahmanas; aninasat--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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The ksatriyas, or the ruling class, must govern the world in accordance
with the rules and regulations enacted by great brahmanas and saintly persons.
As soon as the ruling class becomes irresponsible in regard to the religious
principles, it becomes a burden on the earth. As stated here, rajas-tamo-vrtam,
bharam abrahmanyam: when the ruling class is influenced by the lower modes of
nature, namely ignorance and passion, it becomes a burden to the world and must
then be annihilated by superior power. We actually see from modern history that
monarchies have been abolished by various revolutions, but unfortunately the
monarchies have been abolished to establish the supremacy of third-class and
fourth-class men. Although monarchies overpowered by the modes of passion and
ignorance have been abolished in the world, the inhabitants of the world are
still unhappy, for although the qualities of the former monarchs were degraded
by taints of ignorance, these monarchs have been replaced by men of the
mercantile and worker classes whose qualities are even more degraded. When the
government is actually guided by brahmanas, or God conscious men, then there
can be real happiness for the people. Therefore in previous times, when the
ruling class was degraded to the modes of passion and ignorance, the brahmanas,
headed by such a ksatriya-spirited brahmana as Parasurama, killed them twenty-one
consecutive times.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
In Kali-yuga, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.13), dasyu-prayesu
rajasu: the ruling class (rajanya) will be no better than plunderers (dasyus)
because the third-class and fourth-class men will monopolize the affairs of the
government. Ignoring the religious principles and brahminical rules and
regulations, they will certainly try to plunder the riches of the citizens
without consideration. As stated elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.1.40):
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
asamskrtah kriya-hina
rajasa tamasavrtah
prajas te bhaksayisyanti
mleccha rajanya-rupinah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
Being unpurified, neglecting to discharge human duties properly, and
being influenced by the modes of passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas), unclean
people (mlecchas), posing as members of the government (rajanya-rupinah), will
swallow the citizens (prajas te bhaksayisyanti). And in still another place,
Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.7-8) says:
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
evam prajabhir dustabhir
akirne ksiti-mandale
brahma-vit-ksatra-sudranam
yo bali bhavita nrpah
praja hi lubdhai
rajanyair
nirghrnair
dasyu-dharmabhih
acchinna-dara-dravina
yasyanti giri-ka nanam
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 15 :PURPORT
Human society is naturally grouped into four divisions, as stated in
Bhagavad-gita (catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah). But if this
system is neglected and the qualities and divisions of society are not
considered, the result will be brahma-vit-ksatra-sudranam yo bali bhavita
nrpah: the so-called caste system of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra will
be meaningless. As a result, whoever somehow or other becomes powerful will be
the king or president, and thus the prajas, or citizens, will be so harassed
that they will give up hearth and home and will go to the forest (yasyanti
giri-kananam) to escape harassment by government officials who have no mercy
and are addicted to the ways of plunderers. Therefore the prajas, or the people
in general, must take to the Krsna consciousness movement, the Hare Krsna
movement, which is the sound incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara: Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
has now appeared as an incarnation by His holy name. Therefore, when the prajas
become Krsna conscious, they can then expect a good government and good
society, a perfect life, and liberation from the bondage of material existence.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 16 :TEXT
TEXT 16
sri-rajovaca
kim tad amho bhagavato
rajanyair ajitatmabhih
krtam yena kulam nastam
ksatriyanam abhiksnasah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 16 :WORD for WORD
sri-raja uvaca--Maharaja Pariksit
inquired; kim--what; tat amhah--that offense; bhagavatah--unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; rajanyaih--by the royal family; ajita-atmabhih--who
could not control their senses and thus were degraded; krtam--which had been
done; yena--by which; kulam--the dynasty; nastam--was annihilated;
ksatriyanam--of the royal family; abhiksnasah--again and again.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 16 :TRANSLATION
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?
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 17-19 :TEXT
TEXT 17-19
sri-badarayanir uvaca
haihayanam adhipatir
arjunah ksatriyarsabhah
dattam narayanamsamsam
aradhya parikarmabhih
bahun dasa-satam lebhe
durdharsatvam aratisu
avyahatendriyaujah sri-
tejo-virya-yaso-balam
yogesvaratvam aisvaryam
guna-yatranimadayah
cacaravyahata-gatir
lokesu pavano yatha
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 17-19 :WORD for WORD
sri-badarayanih uvaca--Sri Sukadeva
Gosvami replied; haihayanam adhipatih--the King of the Haihayas; arjunah--by
the name Kartaviryarjuna; ksatriya-rsabhah--the best of the ksatriyas;
dattam--unto Dattatreya; narayana-amsa-amsam--the plenary portion of the
plenary portion of Narayana; aradhya--after worshiping; parikarmabhih--by
worship according to the regulative principles; bahun--arms; dasa-satam--one
thousand (ten times one hundred); lebhe--achieved; durdharsatvam--the quality
of being very difficult to conquer; aratisu--in the midst of enemies;
avyahata--undefeatable; indriya-ojah--strength of the senses; sri--beauty;
tejah--influence; virya--power; yasah--fame; balam--bodily strength;
yoga-isvaratvam--controlling power gained by the practice of mystic yoga; aisvaryam--opulence;
gunah--qualities; yatra--wherein; anima-adayah--eight kinds of yogic perfection
(anima, laghima, etc.); cacara--he went; avyahata-gatih--whose progress was
indefatigable; lokesu--all over the world or universe; pavanah--the wind;
yatha--like.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 17-19 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 20 :TEXT
TEXT 20
stri-rataair avrtah
kridan
reva mbhasi madotkatah
vaijayantim srajam
bibhrad
rurodha saritam bhujaih
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 20 :WORD for WORD
stri-ratnaih--by beautiful women;
avrtah--surrounded; kridan--enjoying; reva-ambhasi--in the water of the River
Reva, or Narmada; mada-utkatah--too puffed up because of opulence; vaijayantim
srajam--the garland of victory; bibhrat--being decorated with; rurodha--stopped
the flow; saritam--of the river; bhujaih--with his arms.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 20 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 21 :TEXT
TEXT 21
viplavitam sva-sibiram
pratisrotah-sarij jalaih
namrsyat tasya tad
viryam
viramani dasananah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter Fifteen,
Text 21 :WORD for WORD
viplavitam--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 Kartaviryarjuna; tat viryam--that influence; viramani--considering
himself very heroic; dasa-ananah--the ten-headed Ravana.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 21 :TRANSLATION
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 Mahismati, was inundated. This was unbearable to the ten-headed Ravana, who
considered himself a great hero and could not tolerate Kartaviryarjuna's power.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 21 :PURPORT
PURPORT
Ravana was out touring to gain victory over all other countries
(digvijaya), and he had camped on the bank of the Narmada River near the city
of Mahismati.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 22 :TEXT
TEXT 22
grhito lilaya strinam
samaksam krta-kilbisah
mahismatyam sanniruddho
mukto yena kapir yatha
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 22 :WORD for WORD
grhitah--was arrested by force;
lilaya--very easily; strinam--of the women; samaksam--in the presence;
krta-kilbisah--thus becoming an offender; mahismatyam--in the city known as
Mahismati; sanniruddhah--was arrested; muktah--released; yena--by whom
(Kartaviryarjuna); kapih yatha--exactly as done to a monkey.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 22 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 23 :TEXT
TEXT 23
sa ekada tu mrgayam
vicaran vijane vane
yadrcchayasrama-padam
jamadagner upavisat
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 23 :WORD for WORD
sah--he, Kartaviryarjuna; ekada--once
upon a time; tu--but; mrgayam--while hunting; vicaran--wandering;
vijane--solitary; vane--in a forest; yadrcchaya--without any program;
asrama-padam--the residential place; jamadagneh--of Jamadagni Muni;
upavisat--he entered.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 23 :TRANSLATION
TRANSLATION
Once while Kartaviryarjuna was wandering unengaged in a solitary forest
and hunting, he approached the residence of Jamadagni.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 23 :PURPORT
PURPORT
Kartaviryarjuna had no business going to the residence of Jamadagni, but
because he was puffed-up by his extraordinary power, he went there and offended
Parasurama. This was the prelude to his being killed by Parasurama for his
offensive act.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 24 :TEXT
TEXT 24
tasmai sa naradevaya
munir arhanam aharat
sasainyamatya-vahaya
havismatya tapo-dhanah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 24 :WORD for WORD
tasmai--unto him; sah--he (Jamadagni);
naradevaya--unto King Kartaviryarjuna; munih--the great sage;
arhanam--paraphernalia for worship; aharat--offered; sa-sainya--with his
soldiers; amatya--his ministers; vahaya--and the chariots, the elephants, the
horses or the men who carried the palanquins; havismatya--because of possessing
a kamadhenu, a cow that could supply everything; tapah-dhanah--the great sage,
whose only power was his austerity, or who was engaged in austerity.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 24 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 24 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The Brahma-samhita informs us that the spiritual world, and especially
the planet Goloka Vrndavana, where Krsna lives, is full of surabhi cows
(surabhir abhipalayantam). The surabhi cow is also called kamadhenu. Although
Jamadagni possessed only one kamadhenu, he was able to get from it everything
desirable. Thus he was able to receive the King, along with the King's great
number of followers, ministers, soldiers, animals and palanquin carriers. When
we speak of a king, we understand that he is accompanied by many followers.
Jamadagni was able to receive all the King's followers properly and feed them
sumptuously with food prepared in ghee. The King was astonished at how opulent
Jamadagni was because of possessing only one cow, and therefore he became
envious of the great sage. This was the beginning of his offense. Parasurama,
the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, killed Kartaviryarjuna
because Kartaviryarjuna was too proud. One may possess unusual opulence in this
material world, but if one becomes puffed up and acts whimsically he will be
punished by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the lesson to learn
from this history, in which Parasurama became angry at Kartaviryarjuna and
killed him and rid the entire world of ksatriyas twenty-one times.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter Fifteen,
Text 25 :TEXT
TEXT 25
sa vai ratnam tu tad
drstva
atmaisvaryatisayanam
tan nadriyatagnihotryam
sabhilasah sahaihayah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 25 :WORD for WORD
sah--he (Kartaviryarjuna); vai--indeed;
ratnam--a great source of wealth; tu--indeed; tat--the kamadhenu in the
possession of Jamadagni; drstva--by observing; atma-aisvarya--his own personal
opulence; ati-sayanam--which was exceeding; tat--that; na--not;
adriyata--appreciated very much; agnihotryam--in that cow, which was useful for
executing the agnihotra sacrifice; sa-abhilasah--became desirous;
sa-haihayah--with his own men, the Haihayas.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 25 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 25 :PURPORT
PURPORT
Jamadagni was more powerful than Kartaviryarjuna because of performing
the agnihotra-yajna with clarified butter received from the kamadhenu. Not
everyone can be expected to possess such a cow. Nonetheless, an ordinary man
may possess an ordinary cow, give protection to this animal, take sufficient
milk from it, and engage the milk to produce butter and clarified ghee,
especially for performing the agnihotra-yajna. This is possible for everyone.
Thus we find that in Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna advises go-raksya, the protection
of cows. This is essential because if cows are cared for properly they will
surely supply sufficient milk. We have practical experience in America that in
our various ISKCON farms we are giving proper protection to the cows and
receiving more than enough milk. In other farms the cows do not deliver as much
milk as in our farms; because our cows know very well that we are not going to
kill them, they are happy, and they give ample milk. Therefore this instruction
given by Lord Krsna--go-raksya--is extremely meaningful. The whole world must
learn from Krsna how to live happily without scarcity simply by producing food
grains (annad bhavanti bhutani) and giving protection to the cows (go-raksya).
Krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhavajam. Those who belong to the third
level of human society, namely the mercantile people, must keep land for
producing food grains and giving protection to cows. This is the injunction of
Bhagavad-gita. In the matter of protecting the cows, the meat-eaters will
protest, but in answer to them we may say that since Krsna gives stress to cow
protection, those who are inclined to eat meat may eat the flesh of unimportant
animals like hogs, dogs, goats and sheep, but they should not touch the life of
the cows, for this is destructive to the spiritual advancement of human
society.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 26 :TEXT
TEXT 26
havirdhanim rser darpan
naran hartum acodayat
te ca mahismatim ninyuh
sa-vatsam krandatim
balat
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 26 :WORD for WORD
havih-dhanim--the kamadhenu; rseh--of
the great sage Jamadagni; darpat--because of his being puffed up with material
power; naran--all his men (soldiers); hartum--to steal or take away;
acodayat--encouraged; te--the men of Kartaviryarjuna; ca--also; mahismatim--to
the capital of Kartaviryarjuna; ninyuh--brought; sa-vatsam--with the calf;
krandatim--crying; balat--because of being taken away by force.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 26 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 26 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The word havirdhanim is significant in this verse. Havirdhanim refers to
a cow required for supplying havis, or ghee, for the performance of ritualistic
ceremonies in sacrifices. In human life, one should be trained to perform
yajnas. As we are informed in Bhagavad-gita (3.9), yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra
loko 'yam karma-bandhanah: if we do not perform yajna, we shall simply work
very hard for sense gratification like dogs and hogs. This is not civilization.
A human being should be trained to perform yajna. Yajnad bhavati parjanyah. If
yajnas are regularly performed, there will be proper rain from the sky, and
when there is regular rainfall, the land will be fertile and suitable for
producing all the necessities of life. Yajna, therefore, is essential. For
performing yajna, clarified butter is essential, and for clarified butter, cow
protection is essential. Therefore, if we neglect the Vedic way of
civilization, we shall certainly suffer. So-called scholars and philosophers do
not know the secret of success in life, and therefore they suffer in the hands
of prakrti, nature (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah). Nonetheless,
although they are forced to suffer, they think they are advancing in
civilization (ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate). The Krsna
consciousness movement is therefore meant to revive a mode of civilization in
which everyone will be happy. This is the motive of our Krsna consciousness
movement. Yajne sukhena bhavantu.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 27 :TEXT
TEXT 27
atha rajani niryate
rama asrama agatah
srutva tat tasya
dauratmyam
cukrodhahir ivahatah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 27 :WORD for WORD
atha--thereafter; rajani--when the King;
niryate--had gone away; ramah--Parasurama, the youngest son of Jamadagni;
asrame--in the cottage; agatah--returned; srutva--when he heard; tat--that;
tasya--of Kartaviryarjuna; dauratmyam--nefarious act; cukrodha--became
extremely angry; ahih--a snake; iva--like; ahatah--trampled or injured.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 27 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 28 :TEXT
TEXT 28
ghoram adaya parasum
satanam varma karmukam
anvadhavata durmarso
mrgendra iva yuthapam
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 28 :WORD for WORD
ghoram--extremely fierce; adaya--taking
in hand; parasum--a chopper; sa-tanam--along with a quiver; varma--a shield;
karmukam--a bow; anvadhavata--followed; durmarsah--Lord Parasurama, being
exceedingly angry; mrgendrah--a lion; iva--like; yuthapam--(goes to attack) an
elephant.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 28 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 29 :TEXT
TEXT 29
tam apatantam bhrgu-varyam
ojasa
dhanur-dharam
bana-parasvadhayudham
aineya-camaambaram
arka-dhamabhir
yutam jatabhir dadrse purim
visan
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 29 :WORD for WORD
tam--that Lord Parasurama;
apatantam--coming after him; bhrgu-varyam--the best of the Bhrgu dynasty, Lord
Parasurama; ojasa--very fiercely; dhanuh-dharam--carrying a bow; bana--arrows;
parasvadha--chopper; ayudham--having all these weapons; aineya-carma--blackish
deerskin; ambaram--the covering of his body; arka-dhamabhih--appearing like the
sunshine; yutam jatabhih--with locks of hair; dadrse--he saw; purim--into the
capital; visan--entering.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 29 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :TEXT
TEXT 30
acodayad
dhasti-rathasva-pattibhir
gadasi-banarsti-sataghni-saktibhih
aksauhinih
sapta-dasatibhisanas
ta rama eko bhagavan
asudayat
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :WORD for WORD
acodayat--he sent for fighting; hasti--with
elephants; ratha--with chariots; asva--with horses; pattibhih--and with
infantry; gada--with clubs; asi--with swords; bana--with arrows; rsti--with the
weapons called rstis; sataghni--with weapons called sataghnis; saktibhih--with
weapons called saktis; aksauhinih--whole groups of aksauhinis;
sapta-dasa--seventeen; ati-bhisanah--very fierce; tah--all of them; ramah--Lord
Parasurama; ekah--alone; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
asudayat--killed.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :PURPORT
PURPORT
The word aksauhini refers to a military phalanx consisting of 21,870
chariots and elephants, 109,350 infantry soldiers and 65,610 horses. An exact
description is given in the Mahabharata, Adi parva, Second Chapter, as follows:
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :PURPORT
eko ratho gajas caikah
narah panca padatayah
trayas ca turagas taj
jnaih
pattir ity
abhidhiyate
pattim tu trigunam etam
viduh senamukham budhah
trini senamukhany eko
gulma ity adhidhiyate
trayo gulma gano nama
vahini tu ganas trayah
srutas tisras tu
vahinyah
prtaneti vicaksanaih
camus tu prtanas tisras
camvas tisras tv anikini
anikinim dasa-gunam
ahur aksauhinim budhah
aksauhinyas tu sankhyata
rathanam dvija-sattamah
sankhya-ganita-tattvajnaih
sahasrany eka-vimsati
satany upari castau ca
bhuyas tatha ca saptatih
gajanam tu parimanam
tavad evatra nirdiset
jneyam sata-sahasram tu
sahasram tatha nava
naranam adhi pancasac
chatani trini canaghah
panca-sasti-sahasrani
tathasvanam satani ca
dasottaram sat cahur
yathavad abhisankhyaya
etam aksauhinim prahuh
sankhya-tattva-vido
janah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 30 :PURPORT
"One chariot, one elephant, five
infantry soldiers and three horses are called a patti by those who are learned
in the science. The wise also know that a senamukha is three times what a patti
is. Three senamukhas are known as one gulma, three gulmas are called a gana,
and three ganas are called a vahini. Three vahinis have been referred to by the
learned as a prtana, three prtanas equal one camu, and three camus equal one
anikini. The wise refer to ten anikinis as one aksauhini. The chariots of an
aksauhini have been calculated at 21,870 by those who know the science of such
calculations, O best of the twice-born, and the number of elephants is the
same. The number of infantry soldiers is 109,350, and the number of horses is
65,610. This is called an aksauhini."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 31 :TEXT
TEXT 31
yato yato 'sau
praharat-parasvadho
mano-'nilaujah
para-cakra-sudanah
tatas tatas
chinna-bhujoru-kandhara
nipetur urvyam
hata-suta-vahanah
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 31 :WORD for WORD
yatah--wherever; yatah--wherever;
asau--Lord Parasurama; praharat--slashing; parasvadhah--being expert in using
his weapon, the parasu, or chopper; manah--like the mind; anila--like the wind;
ojah--being forceful; para-cakra--of the enemies' military strength;
sudanah--killer; tatah--there; tatah--and there; chinna--scattered and cut off;
bhuja--arms; uru--legs; kandharah--shoulders; nipetuh--fell down; urvyam--on
the ground; hata--killed; suta--chariot drivers; vahanah--carrier horses and
elephants.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 31 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 31 :PURPORT
PURPORT
In the beginning, when the army of the enemy was full of fighting
soldiers, elephants and horses, Lord Parasurama proceeded into their midst at
the speed of mind to kill them. When somewhat tired, he slowed down to the
speed of wind and continued to kill the enemies vigorously. The speed of mind
is greater than the speed of the wind.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 32 :TEXT
TEXT 32
drstva sva-sainyam
rudhiraugha-kardame
ranajire
rama-kuthara-sayakaih
vivrkna-varma-dhvaja-capa-vigraham
nipatitam haihaya apatad
rusa
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 32 :WORD for WORD
drstva--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; rama-kuthara--by the axe of Lord
Parasurama; sayakaih--and by the arrows; vivrkna--scattered; varma--the
shields; dhvaja--the flags; capa--bows; vigraham--the bodies;
nipatitam--fallen; haihayah--Kartaviryarjuna; apatat--forcefully came there;
rusa--being very angry.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 32 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 33 :TEXT
TEXT 33
atharjunah panca-satesu
bahubhir
dhanuhsu banan yugapat sa
sandadhe
ramaya ramo 'stra-bhrtam
samagranis
tany eka-dhanvesubhir acchinat
samam
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 33 :WORD for WORD
atha--thereafter;
arjunah--Kartaviryarjuna; panca-satesu--five hundred; bahubhih--with his arms;
dhanuhsu--on the bows; banan--arrows; yugapat--simultaneously; sah--he;
sandadhe--fixed; ramaya--just to kill Lord parasurama; ramah--Lord Parasurama;
astra-bhrtam--of all the soldiers who could use weapons; samagranih--the very
best; tani--all the bows of Kartaviryarjuna; eka-dhanva--possessing one bow;
isubhih--the arrows; acchinat--cut to pieces; samam--with.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 33 :TRANSLATION
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.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 34 :TEXT
TEXT 34
punah sva-hastair acalan mrdhe
'nghripan
utksipya vegad abhidhavato
yudhi
bhujan kutharena
kathora-nemina
ciccheda ramah prasabham tv
aher iva
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter
Fifteen, Text 34 :WORD for WORD