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Shloka 39

Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense

with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni

वयं हि ब्राह्मणास्तात क्षमयार्हणतां गता: । यया लोकगुरुर्देव: पारमेष्ठ्यमगात् पदम् ॥ ३९ ॥

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

My son, we are brāhmaṇas; by the virtue of forgiveness we have become worthy of reverence among all people. By that very quality, Lord Brahmā, the guru of the worlds, attained his supreme post.

वयम्we
वयम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन
हिindeed/for
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic/causal particle)
ब्राह्मणाःbrahmins
ब्राह्मणाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन
तातdear son
तात:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootतात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
क्षमयाby forgiveness
क्षमया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन
अर्हणताम्worthiness of honor
अर्हणताम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्हणता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘अर्हणता’ = worthiness of honor
गताःhave attained
गताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootगम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण (वयम्/ब्राह्मणाः)
ययाby which (forgiveness)
यया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)
लोकगुरुःthe teacher of the world
लोकगुरुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootलोक + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य गुरुः)
देवःthe god (Brahmā)
देवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; लोकगुरोः विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण
पारमेष्ठ्यम्the supreme (status)
पारमेष्ठ्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootपारमेष्ठ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘पारमेष्ठ्य’ = of the Supreme Lord/pertaining to Parameṣṭhin
अगात्attained/went to
अगात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
पदम्position/abode
पदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
B
Bṛhaspati
B
Brahmā

FAQs

This verse teaches that forgiveness is a defining virtue of brāhmaṇas and a primary reason they are worthy of respect; it is so powerful that it is credited with elevating the world’s guru to the highest post.

In the narrative, Paraśurāma emphasizes brāhmaṇical conduct—especially forgiveness—urging restraint and dharmic response rather than impulsive retaliation, grounding his counsel in revered precedent.

Practice deliberate forbearance: pause before reacting, respond without vengeance, and choose actions that uphold dharma—turning strength into self-mastery rather than aggression.