Shloka 36

Devanagari script

कृत्तबाहो: शिरस्तस्य गिरे: श‍ृङ्गमिवाहरत् । हते पितरि तत्पुत्रा अयुतं दुद्रुवुर्भयात् ॥ ३५ ॥ अग्निहोत्रीमुपावर्त्य सवत्सां परवीरहा । समुपेत्याश्रमं पित्रे परिक्लिष्टां समर्पयत् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

Thereafter, Parashurama cut off like a mountain peak the head of Kartaviryarjuna, who had already lost his arms. When Kartaviryarjuna’s ten thousand sons saw their father killed, they all fled in fear. Then Parashurama, having killed the enemy, released the kamadhenu and brought it back to his father, Jamadagni.

Synonyms

• agnihotrīm: Agnihotrī (the agnihotra-performing lady)
• agnihotrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agnihotrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘the performer of Agnihotra’ (his mother)

• upāvartya: having brought back
• upāvartya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having brought back/returned (her)’

• sa-vatsām: together with her calf
• sa-vatsām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश ‘with’) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; अव्ययीभाव: ‘with a calf’ qualifying agnihotrīm

• para-vīra-hā: the slayer of enemy heroes
• para-vīra-hā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु/प्रातिपदिक ‘slayer’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘slayer of enemy heroes’ (epithet of Rāma)

• samupetya: having approached
• samupetya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having approached’

• āśramam: the hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pitre: to (his) father
• pitre: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• parikliṣṭām: afflicted, distressed
• parikliṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√kliś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with agnihotrīm

• samarpayat: handed over, presented
• samarpayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arp (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Paraśurāma
• Kārtavīrya Arjuna (Sahasrārjuna)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the downfall of arrogant rulers?

This verse shows that when a ruler becomes oppressive and is defeated, even vast power and a large dynasty cannot protect him—fear and collapse follow swiftly.

Why did Paraśurāma kill Kārtavīrya Arjuna in Canto 9?

In this narrative, Paraśurāma punishes the king’s violent misuse of power and the harm done to brāhmaṇas, establishing dharma by removing tyranny.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Power without humility leads to ruin; leadership must be restrained by ethics, respect, and accountability.