Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.15.33
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOne Bow Overcomes Five Hundred
“Then Kārtavīryārjuna, with his one thousand arms, simultaneously fixed arrows on five hundred bows to kill Lord Paraśurāma. But Lord Paraśurāma, the best of fighters, released enough arrows with only one bow to cut to pieces immediately all the arrows and bows in the hands of Kārtavīryārjuna.”
What the purport teaches
- With his thousand arms, Kārtavīryārjuna simultaneously placed arrows on five hundred bows to kill Lord Paraśurāma.
- Lord Paraśurāma is described as the best of fighters. He faced this attack with only one bow.
- He immediately released enough arrows to cut apart all of Kārtavīryārjuna’s arrows and bows. The king’s greater number of weapons could not overcome him.
Try this today
Pause for one minute to reflect on the Lord’s mastery as described in this verse.
Ask yourself
What does the contrast between one bow and five hundred reveal about Lord Paraśurāma’s skill?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.