Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 28

Paraśurāma, Kārtavīryārjuna, and the Kāmadhenu Offense

with Lunar-line Genealogy to Gādhi and Jamadagni

Devanagari script

घोरमादाय परशुं सतूणं वर्म कार्मुकम् । अन्वधावत दुर्मर्षो मृगेन्द्र इव यूथपम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

ghoram ādāya paraśuṁ satūṇaṁ varma kārmukam anvadhāvata durmarṣo mṛgendra iva yūthapam

Translation

घोरं परशुं सतूणं वर्म कार्मुकं च समादाय, दुर्मर्षः परशुरामः कार्तवीर्यार्जुनमन्वधावत—यथा मृगेन्द्रः यूथपं गजं धावति॥

Synonyms

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying weapon)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभावे ल्यप् (gerund/absolutive); ‘having taken’

• परशुम्: axe
• परशुम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘having taken’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सतूणम्: with a quiver
• सतूणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-तूण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सह-तूणः = with quiver)

• वर्म: armor
• वर्म: Karma (कर्म; taken/borne)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्/वर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma (कर्म; taken/borne)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्वधावत: pursued
• अन्वधावत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुर्मर्षः: fierce / intolerant
• दुर्मर्षः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्मर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘दुर्मर्षः’ = hard to endure/irascible)

• मृगेन्द्रः: lion
• मृगेन्द्रः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘मृगाणाम् इन्द्रः’ = king of beasts)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• यूथपम्: leader of a herd
• यूथपम्: Karma (कर्म; object of pursuit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Paraśurāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Parashurama’s fierce determination in battle?

This verse depicts Paraśurāma arming himself and charging like a lion, emphasizing his unstoppable resolve when provoked and his readiness to act decisively.

Why is Parashurama compared to a lion in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.28?

The lion comparison highlights his dominance, fearlessness, and swift pursuit—suggesting that his opponent was overmatched, like a herd-leader facing a lion.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this verse about anger and action?

The verse shows intense energy directed into decisive action; in modern life, it can inspire disciplined strength—channeling emotion into dharmic duty rather than impulsive harm.