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Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 36

Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense

with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni

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

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

ព្រះបរशुរាម បានកាត់ក្បាលរបស់គាត់ដូចជាកំពូលភ្នំ។ ពេលឃើញឪពុកស្លាប់ កូនប្រុសរបស់គាត់បានរត់គេចខ្លួនដោយភ័យខ្លាច។ បន្ទាប់មក ទ្រង់បាននាំគោ Kamadhenu ដែលរងទុក្ខ ត្រឡប់ទៅជូនឪពុករបស់ទ្រង់វិញ។

agnihotrīmAgnihotrī (the agnihotra-performing lady)
agnihotrīm:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootagnihotrī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘the performer of Agnihotra’ (his mother)
upāvartyahaving brought back
upāvartya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
TypeVerb
Rootupa-ā-√vṛt (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having brought back/returned (her)’
sa-vatsāmtogether with her calf
sa-vatsām:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश ‘with’) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; अव्ययीभाव: ‘with a calf’ qualifying agnihotrīm
para-vīra-hāthe slayer of enemy heroes
para-vīra-hā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु/प्रातिपदिक ‘slayer’)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘slayer of enemy heroes’ (epithet of Rāma)
samupetyahaving approached
samupetya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-upa-√i (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having approached’
āśramamthe hermitage
āśramam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootāśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
pitreto (his) father
pitre:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
parikliṣṭāmafflicted, distressed
parikliṣṭām:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootpari-√kliś (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with agnihotrīm
samarpayathanded over, presented
samarpayat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-√arp (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular
P
Paraśurāma
K
Kārtavīrya Arjuna (Sahasrārjuna)

FAQs

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.

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

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