Krishnaya namah

Ninth Canto Chapter Sixteen

In this chapter the story of Paraśurama and of Śunaḥśepa are covered.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “O Emperor Parikshit, who brings joy to the lineage of Kurus! Listen. Paraśurama accepted the orders issued by his father Maharishi Jamadagni. For a period of one year he wandered through different lands visiting sacred pilgrim centres and serving them all. After this period he returned to his hermitage.

One morning his mother Renuka-devi went to the banks of River Ganga to fetch water. Here she saw a Gandharva named Chitraratha, who was decked with a garland of lotuses, playfully sporting with the apsaras (celestial maidens) in the waters of Ganga. Carried away by this scene she failed to return home. She even failed to remember that the time for completion of the homa was passing by. To add to this, she was slightly attracted by Chitraratha.

A little time later she came to her senses. She was frightened that her husband would curse her.

Being a chaste woman, every morning she could bake a fresh pot with sand to carry water to the ashram. That morning as her mind was disturbed and had lost that chastity, she could not make a new pot. The grains of sand were not assembling together. With great effort she made a pot and carried water in it.

She kept the water pot in front of her husband and offered obeisance to him. Maharishi Jamadagni sensed that his wife had mentally desired another man. Angered by her behaviour he called Paraśurama’s elder brothers and commanded, “My dearest sons! Please immediately chop off the head of this sinful woman”. These sons however refrained from executing his order.

Jamadagni then called Paraśurama and ordered him to kill his mother and brothers. Paraśurama, without even a moment’s hesitation, chopped off the heads of his mother and his brothers who had disobeyed his father. He did not hesitate because he was very well aware of the Yogic powers and supernatural accomplishments that his father had mastered.

Maharishi Jamadagni was exceedingly pleased with Paraśurama, who even without a moment’s hesitation, had abided by his commands. He now asked his son to choose any boon. Paraśurama then begged that his mother and brothers should be restored to life. He further asked that the memory of their death should be erased from them. If his brothers remembered that he had killed them previously, conflicts could arise.

Maharishi Jamadagni blessed accordingly. Paraśurama’s mother and brothers woke up as if they were arising from deep sleep. Paraśurama, who knew the exalted Yogic state of his father, had unhesitatingly killed his mother and brothers, whom he loved dearly.

Meanwhile, sons of Kārtavīrya began to burn with hatred and anger towards Paraśurama. Constantly recollecting the death of their father in the hands of Paraśurama, they grieved. They could not enjoy peace and happiness of any form. They began to eagerly wait for that suitable opportunity when they could seek revenge.

One morning Paraśurama went into the forests along with his brothers. Finding this a suitable opportunity, the sons of Kārtavīrya collectively attacked the hermitage. At that moment, Maharishi Jamadagni, who was seated near the sacred fire, had fixed his mind exclusively upon the Supreme Lord. These sons of Kārtavīrya, who had decided to engage in this sinful deed, pounced upon Maharishi Jamadagni and killed him.

These degraded Kshatriyas were cruel by nature. Renuka devi begged with them in various ways to spare her husband’s life. Without heeding to her prayers, they mercilessly chopped the sage’s head and took it along with them.

Renuka devi, the chaste lady, grieved mentally and physically at this loss. Beating her chest with her hands, she piteously and loudly called out, “My dear son, Rama! Rama! Please return home”.

Rama, who was at a distance from his home, heard his mother’s wails. He could sense that her voice was choked with sorrow. In great haste Rama returned home. Paraśurama had the capacity of clairaudience. He was aghast upon seeing the headless body of his father. At that moment, Paraśurama, who was submerged in uncontrollable sorrow and who was bewildered due to his father’s death grieved, “My dear father! You are a saintly person who is eternally disposed towards righteousness. Leaving us here you have ascended to heaven.”

Weeping pitifully he handed over his father’s body to his brothers and took up the axe in his hands with the intent of destroying all Kshatriyas. Due to this terrible sin committed by its princes, the city of Mahismatipuram, totally lost its lustre.

When Paraśurama chopped the heads of the warriors and threw them into the city centre, they resembled a great mountain of heads. A huge river of blood flowed from there.

Paraśurama noticed that the warriors (kshatriyas) of that era had become a menace. Their limitless independence and authority had caused them to indulge in unwanted atrocities. Using his father’s death as an excuse, he travelled 21 times around the Earth, killing all the kṣatriyas. He ensured that kṣatriyas were totally eliminated from the face of Earth.

As his mother had called out 21 times he went around the globe 21 times.

After this, he reached Kurukshetra. In the place called Samanta-pancaka he created 5 large lakes which were filled with their blood. He now brought his father’s head and placed it on darbha grass. He then fixed it to the body. Even though Paraśurama was none other than the Supreme Lord Srihari, Paraśurama worshipped Lord Srihari through the process of Yagna. He gave the eastern direction to the hota priest. He gave the Southern direction to the Brahma priest and western direction to the Adhvaryu priest. He gave the Northern direction to the Udghata priest. To Prastota and other priests he gave North-east and other directions. To Maharishi Kaśyapa he gave the centre portion. To the Upadṛṣṭa priests who sets right all the short-comings during the Yagna, he gave Aryavarta. To the sabha-sadas who conduct the Yagna, he distributed the remaining areas.

He thereafter completed the concluding (avabruta) bath in the River Saraswati and freed himself from all sins.

Krishnaya namah