Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 18

Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense

with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni

Devanagari script

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच हैहयानामधिपतिरर्जुन: क्षत्रियर्षभ: । दत्तं नारायणांशांशमाराध्य परिकर्मभि: ॥ १७ ॥ बाहून् दशशतं लेभे दुर्धर्षत्वमरातिषु । अव्याहतेन्द्रियौज:श्रीतेजोवीर्ययशोबलम् ॥ १८ ॥ योगेश्वरत्वमैश्वर्यं गुणा यत्राणिमादय: । चचाराव्याहतगतिर्लोकेषु पवनो यथा ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca haihayānām adhipatir arjunaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ dattaṁ nārāyaṇāṁśāṁśam ārādhya parikarmabhiḥ

Translation

Se volvió invencible ante los enemigos y obtuvo sentidos sin obstáculo, belleza, esplendor, poder, fama, fuerza y la potencia mística de las perfecciones del yoga.

Synonyms

• बाहून्: arms
• बाहून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दश-शतम्: a thousand (ten hundreds)
• दश-शतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of बाहून्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश च शतं = one thousand) used as numeral adjective

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• दुर्धर्षत्वम्: invincibility/unassailability
• दुर्धर्षत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्धर्षत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अरातिषु: among enemies
• अरातिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• अव्याहत-इन्द्रिय-ओजः-श्री-तेजः-वीर्य-यशः-बलम्: unimpaired senses, vigor, fortune, splendor, prowess, fame, and strength
• अव्याहत-इन्द्रिय-ओजः-श्री-तेजः-वीर्य-यशः-बलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; list of qualities obtained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्याहत + इन्द्रिय + ओजस् + श्री + तेजस् + वीर्य + यशस् + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective copulative) with initial कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष nuance: अव्याहतानि इन्द्रियाणि; अव्याहतम् ओजः etc.

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya Arjuna
• Dattātreya
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dattatreya being an expansion of Narayana?

This verse identifies Dattātreya as nārāyaṇāṁśāṁśa—an expansion of Lord Nārāyaṇa—whom Kārtavīrya Arjuna worshiped.

How did Kartavirya Arjuna become powerful according to Bhagavatam 9.15?

He gained greatness by worshiping Dattātreya with dedicated service and proper spiritual practices (parikarmabhiḥ), implying divine favor as the source of his later powers.

Practical application: what does “worship through service and observances” mean today?

It points to steady devotion expressed through disciplined practice—regular prayer, self-control, and sincere service—rather than seeking power for its own sake.