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

Cầm lấy lưỡi rìu paraśu dữ dội, cùng ống tên, giáp và cung, Paraśurāma trong cơn giận không kìm nổi đã đuổi theo Kārtavīryārjuna như sư tử đuổi voi.

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.