Shloka 65
यः कार्तवीर्यो बुभुजे समस्तान् द्वीपान् समाक्रम्य हतारिचक्रः कथाप्रसङ्गेष्व् अभिधीयमानः स एव संकल्पविकल्पहेतुः
yaḥ kārtavīryo bubhuje samastān dvīpān samākramya hatāricakraḥ kathāprasaṅgeṣv abhidhīyamānaḥ sa eva saṃkalpavikalpahetuḥ
Kartavīrya—who overran all the continents, shattered the circles of his foes, and enjoyed sovereign rule—even when merely spoken of in the stream of tales, becomes a cause that stirs resolve and counter-resolve within the mind.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the fame of conquerors like Kārtavīrya persists only as story, yet still provokes mental agitation (resolve/counter-resolve).
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: revealing
Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas
Concept: Even the remembered greatness of an emperor can become a psychological trigger for saṃkalpa-vikalpa (oscillating desires and doubts), revealing how fame feeds inner bondage.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Notice how stories of power stimulate comparison and craving; redirect that energy into steady practice—japa, service, and discernment—to quiet saṃkalpa-vikalpa.
Vishishtadvaita: Mind’s oscillations subside when oriented to the Lord as the supreme object (parama-viṣaya); worldly exemplars are secondary and should be integrated as dharma-lessons, not ego-fuel.
Key Kings: Kārtavīrya (Arjuna)
FAQs
The verse portrays his renown as psychologically potent: merely hearing of his conquests provokes determination, rivalry, and competing ambitions in others—showing how exemplary kingship becomes a force that moves human intention.
Parāśara uses concise genealogical narrative (vamsha-charita) and characterizing epithets—like conquering the dvīpas and crushing enemies—to communicate both lineage continuity and the moral-social impact of a ruler’s fame.
Within the Vishnu Purana’s framework, royal power and historical rise-and-fall operate under Vishnu’s cosmic order; the king’s glory is meaningful as part of dharma’s administration in the world, ultimately dependent on the Supreme Reality who sustains all sovereignty.