Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 14
Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense
with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni
यमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं हैहयानां कुलान्तकम् । त्रि:सप्तकृत्वो य इमां चक्रे नि:क्षत्रियां महीम् ॥ १४ ॥
yam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ haihayānāṁ kulāntakam triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo ya imāṁ cakre niḥkṣatriyāṁ mahīm
Learned scholars accept this Paraśurāma as the celebrated incarnation of Vāsudeva who annihilated the dynasty of Kārtavīrya. Paraśurāma killed all the kṣatriyas on earth twenty-one times.
FAQs
This verse refers to Paraśurāma as an aṁśa (partial expansion) of Vāsudeva, who destroyed the Haihaya dynasty and repeatedly punished corrupt kṣatriya rulers.
The verse highlights Paraśurāma’s role in curbing tyrannical and irreligious warrior rulers; by defeating them again and again, he re-established righteous order when kṣatriya power was abused.
Power must be guided by dharma; when leadership becomes oppressive, divine law and moral accountability ultimately correct it, reminding us to govern ourselves and society with integrity.