Shloka 24
Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense
with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni
तस्मै स नरदेवाय मुनिरर्हणमाहरत् । ससैन्यामात्यवाहाय हविष्मत्या तपोधन: ॥ २४ ॥
tasmai sa naradevāya munir arhaṇam āharat sasainyāmātya-vāhāya haviṣmatyā tapo-dhanaḥ
The sage Jamadagni, mighty in austerity within the forest, properly honored that king along with his soldiers, ministers, and attendants. Possessing Havishmatī, the kāmadhenu cow, he provided all necessities for worshipful hospitality.
The Brahma-saṁhitā informs us that the spiritual world, and especially the planet Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Kṛṣṇa lives, is full of surabhi cows ( surabhīr abhipālayantam ). The surabhi cow is also called kāmadhenu. Although Jamadagni possessed only one kāmadhenu, 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. Paraśurāma, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, killed Kārtavīryārjuna because Kārtavīryārjuna 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 Paraśurāma became angry at Kārtavīryārjuna and killed him and rid the entire world of kṣatriyas twenty-one times.
FAQs
This verse describes a powerful sage offering arhaṇa—formal worship with sanctified oblations—to the king and his entire entourage, showing that righteous leadership is to be respected and blessed through dharmic rites.
Because the king’s rule affects the whole state, the sage’s worship and offerings extend to the king’s supporting forces—ministers, army, and retinue—so the entire administration is spiritually aligned and protected.
Honor and support ethical leadership, and keep spiritual principles present in public and family responsibilities—offering one’s work and resources in a purified way for the welfare of all.