Kartavirya Arjuna

As per the Narada Purana (76:4), The Thousand Armed Sahasrabahu Arjuna was the incarnation of the Thousand Blade Sudarsana Chakra.[13] He was born on the Earth in order to face the power of Vishnu in the contest with the Shaktyavesha Avatar Parashurama. In most accounts, Kartavirya is described as a righteous king, who eventually became egotistical. The kshatriyas of his age, on account of their war with the Bhargava clan over property, became unrighteous and began oppressing and slaying innocent Brahmins, etc. On this count, the Jivatma Parashurama (destined to be a future Saptarishi) was born with the God Vishnu's divine strength and power to rid the Earth of unjust rulers. Kartavirya was slated to be his prime opponent, as the mightiest king of that time.

Dattatreya blesses Kartavirya Arjuna

According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas, the most celebrated Haihaya Emperor was Kartavirya Arjuna.[14] His epithet was Sahasrabahu. He was called a Samrat and Chakravartin. His name is found in the Rig Veda (VIII.45.26).[15] He ultimately conquered Mahishmati city from Karkotaka Naga, a Naga chief and made it his fortress-capital(Which Karkota won from Kritvirya).[14]

According to the Vayu Purana and Veda (VIII.45.26k, he invaded Lanka and took Demon King Ravana prisoner.[16] Arjuna propitiated Dattatreya and was favoured by him.[17] Arjuna's sons killed sage Jamadagni. Jamadagni's son Parashurama in revenge killed Arjuna. Arjuna had a number of sons. His son Jayadhvaja succeeded him to the throne. Jayadhvaja was succeeded by his son Talajangha.[14]

In the Mahabharata Vana Parva, according to the story of Akritavana, Kartavirya Arjuna became drunk with power, despite all the boons he had acquired. He lost control of his senses and began to oppress humans, Yakshas and the very gods themselves. Kartavirya even had the audacity to insult Indra in front of Shachi. Around this time, other Kshatriyas too had become drunk with power and oppressed innocents for pleasure.

Kartavirya converses with feared Varuna.

Arjuna once troubled Varuna and asked him if there was anyone equal to him in power. Varuna replied that only Jamadagni's son, Parashurama rivalled Arjuna. Enraged, Arjuna went to Jamadagni's hermitage to see Parashurama's power.

Rig Veda (VIII.45.26k) mentioned that Emperor Kartavirya Invaded on Lanka, lonely defeated Demon King Ravan and his army and took Ravan captive.

According to Vishnu Puran, Kartavirya is considered to be the contemporary of Ravana. The story goes that once when Kartavirya Arjuna was having a bath in the river Narmada along with his wives, he stopped the force of the river with his thousand arms from both sides.

Kartavirya Arjuna defeats Ravana (right)

The Dashagriva (Ravana), who was singing the hymns of Shiva and praying to him, made him lose his concentration. Enraged, he challenged the former for combat in which Ravana was defeated and was humiliated. Then, on the request of his paternal grandfather, Pulastya, Kartavirya Arjuna released Ravana.[18]

The Vayu Purana states that Kartavirya invaded Lanka, and there took Ravana as prisoner, but later he was killed by Parashurama and Ravana was rescued from Arjuna.[19]

• Skanda, Matsya, Narada & Bramhvaivarta Purans legend

According to Skanda, Matsya, Narada & Bramhvaivarta Purans etc, due to the pride of his power, Sudarshana Chakra was cursed that Narayana's incarnation would go for his salvation after a good rule on the earth. In which later such conditions will arise for the war with that incarnation i.e. Parshuram. Then Arjuna's sons killed many crores of Bhargavas, after which the situation of war was created.

Kartavirya Arjun killed Parshurama in battle and his bhargav army fled, then lord Shiva revived him an made him Cheeranzini. After that Shiva request to Dattatreya to took back power from Sahastrabahu. After that Parshuram cutoff his thousand arms and leave him when he have only 4 arms.

Kartavirya's body became a Shivling.

After which the injured Arjun bathes in the river Narmada river as per the orders of Dattatreya. Then in front of Lord Vishnu, Lord Kartavirya Arjun got absorbed in Shivling and came out as Sudarshana Chakra. This Shivling is still in Maheshwar by the name of Shri Rajrajeshwar temple.

After that Kartavirya Arjuna's 995 sons and all 21 Kshatriya kings killed Parshurama's parents and many Bhargavas, due to which Parshurama killed all Kshatriyas 21 times. But as some purans, that time only 5 religious princes were alive in Haihayavansh which was left by Parshurama and in other dynasty who were in the womb. Also after that Parshurama killed unrighteous Kshatriyas many times like Sagar's contemporary Ikshvakuvanshis father was the main one.

• According to Mahabharata

Parashurama killing King Arjuna.

Some Puranas recount that Kartavirya Arjuna and his army visited a rishi named Jamadagni, who fed his guest and the whole army with offerings from his divine cow Kamadhenu. The king demanded the cow for the betterment of his subjects; Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King Arjuna sent his soldiers to take the cow. As the conflict developed among the Jamadagni and the King, Arjuna lost his temper and chopped off the head of Jamadagni. When Parashurama (Jamadagni's son and one of the Daśāvatāras of Vishnu) returned to the hermitage, he was informed of the context by his mother. In revenge, Parashurama killed the entire clan of Arjuna and the King with a battleaxe given to him by Shiva, eventually killing all kshatriyas, thus conquering the entire earth. He enacted this wholesale eradication of the kshatriyas for 21 generations.[20]

In another legend, Kartavirya Arjuna visited the hermitage of Jamadagni, and was received by that sage's wife Renuka with all respect; but he made an ill return for her hospitality, and carried off by violence "the calf of the milch-cow of the sacred oblation." For this outrage Parashurama cut off his thousand arms and killed him.

In another legend, Kartavirya sent seventeen Akshauhinis to fight against the alone Parashurama who was on foot. Parshurama single-handedly slew the entire army and spared no one alive. Kartavirya arrived in his divine golden chariot which could go anywhere unobstructed. The King himself was a powerful archer, capable of simultaneously wielding five hundred bows and shooting five hundred arrows at a time. Parashurama broke Arjuna's bows, slew his horses and charioteer and destroyed the chariot itself with his arrows.

Arjuna hurled many weapons, rocks and trees at Parashurama, but the sage parried all these. Parashurama hacked off his thousand arms with his arrows and dismembered him with his axe.

Kartavirya Arjuna wayang (puppetry) figures

In Indonesia version, especially in Javanese wayang, Kartavirya Arjuna (Indonesian: Kartawirya Arjuna ) is called by the name of Prabu Arjuna Sasrabahu. He is told as the son of Kartawirya and still a descendant of Batara Surya. His grandfather, Herriya, was the founder of the Mahespati Kingdom. Herriya has a sister named Resi Wisageni who has two sons named Suwandagni and Jamadagni. Suwandagni had sons named Sumantri and Sukasrana, while Jamadagni had sons named Ramabargawa (Parasurama). Thus, between Arjuna and Parasurama there is still a cousin relationship.

The Javanese version of Arjuna Sasrabahu is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He ruled justly and wisely in the Mahespati Kingdom. His wife named Citrawati daughter of the Kingdom of Magadha. The person who was assigned to propose to the daughter was Sumantri. This success had made Sumantri forget herself. He also challenges Arjuna if he wants to take Citrawati as a wife, he must take it himself. After going through an exciting battle, Sumantri finally admitted defeat. Arjuna was willing to forgive as long as Sumantri could move Sriwedari Park from Mount Untarayana into Mahespati's palace. Sumantri managed to fulfill this request thanks to the help of her younger brother, Sukasrana. Arjuna who was very happy decided to appoint Sumantri as governor with the title Suwanda.

One day Arjuna went on an excursion with his wife in a river. He did triwikrama changing his form into a very large giant and while lying on the dam the flow of the river created a pond as a bathing place for Citrawati. As a result, the river overflowed to flood the camp of Ravana king of Alengka who was on his way to expand the colony. Then there was a battle between the Alengka troops against Mahespati. Because Citrawati is the reincarnation of Widawati, the woman Ravana loves, Hwana is increasingly eager to crush Mahespati's army. After Suwanda died in the battle, Arjuna Sasrabahu woke up from his sleep and immediately attacked Ravana. Arjuna managed to defeat Ravana, then tied him with chains and dragged him using a chariot. Seeing the torture, Batara Narada came down to deliver a message from heaven for Arjuna to release Ravana because the giant king was not destined to die. Arjuna also freed Ravana on the condition that he should stop spit out his anger. Ravana agreed, and from that moment he became a vassal of Arjuna Sasrabahu. With various tricks Ravana tried to eliminate Arjuna to launch his greedy act again and marry Citrawati.

One day when Arjuna was hunting alone in the forest to entertain himself, Ravana came to report to Citrawati that her husband had died in an accident. Despite Ravana's plan, Citrawati actually defended her starch by plunging into the fire. Upon hearing of his wife's death, Arjuna became even more sad. In this situation Batara Vishnu left Arjuna's body to return to heaven. Arjuna who had lost his passion for life, went to abandon his kingdom. On the way he met Ramabargawa alias Parasurama, his cousin. The valiant Brahmin wandered in search of the perfect death. Apparently he had received divine instructions that he could enter heaven if he died at the hands of Vishnu's incarnation through a fight.

Seeing a good opportunity, Ramabargawa also challenged Arjuna Sasrabahu. Arjuna who was no longer passionate about life was finally killed by Ramabargawa's ax. Batara Narada descended from heaven to explain to Ramabargawa that Vishnu had long since left Arjuna's body. Later, Vishnu will reappear as a prince from the Ayodhya Kingdom named Sri Rama. This character will later lead Ramabargawa to his death.[21][22]