f- — © ' - - e GParashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is one of the immortals of Hindu mythology. It is in this incarnation that we encounter for the first time the emergence of a mature, well-developed human character. Because the first four incarnations belonged to non-human species and the fifth was a mere slip of a boy. Parashurama in many ways is paradoxical. He loved his mother dearly and yet he slew her without a moment's hesitation. He was born a Brahman but he was a better soldier than any Kshatriya and went on to annihilate the Kshatriyas in the battlefield. Though born in a family of hermits, Parashurama was a man of action. His love of action took him into the eras of Rama and Krishna. Thus this is the only incarnation to step out of the confines of its own times. Parashurama is the patron God of the land that stretches in between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the West Coast of India. People there believe that his powerful axe reclaimed the land for them from the depths of the ocean. Published by H.G.Mirchandani for India Book House Education Trust, 29, Wodehouse Road, Bombay ~ 400.039 and printed by A.C. Chobe at IBH Printers, Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Andher 1}, Bombay - 400059, Editor: Anant Pai Retold by: Kamala Chandrakant Artwork: Madhu Powle_-PARAGHURAMA _ WAS BORN ere eet pomoneny ave Re. BUT A BIRTH UNDER STRANGE CiGADH! HAR A DAUGHTER CALLED SATYAVAT!, BUT NO SON. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT OUR KING IG STRONG AND |“ KIND. VEC. AS LONG AS HE RULES, WE NEED FEAR NONE. ¥ HOW BEAUTIFUL, PUK AND COOD LOOKS / /1 AM HONOURED, GREAT SAGE. WOU WILL HAVE TO BRING A DowRY JOF 1000 BROWN HORSES. AIT IS THE CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY.AND WAS1 AM INDEED FORTUNATE IN MAY CHILDREN. 2 FATHER 4 ; — GIVE ME A SON 7 OBEDIENT AND A BROTHER . way AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, 1AM WILLING TO GRANT YOU= HERE ARE TWO POTS OF SACRED RICE AND MILK. THIS ONE 1S FOR WOU... WHICH WILL GIVE U MIGHTY | MARRIAGE TO RICHIKA HAS INDEED BROUGHT US GOOD FORTUNE.SAGE BHRIGU IN FS SPIRITUAL VISION SAW THE EXCHANGE.SON BHRIGU WAS MOVED THOU SA Eee anay Bir HER ENTREATIES : WILL BECOME A: NNARRIOR: © REVERED Gre, 80 EIT, LET MY GRANDSON BE SUCH BUT NOT MY SON. WE SHALL CALL IM Hil JANDAGNI .NOW | CHALL ENTER THE LIFE OF A| Ji HOUSEHOLDER.| f R 1AM READY ARJUNA Io HERE!WHY WASTE OUR TIME HERE WITH THEGE PUNY MORTALS «LET US RIDE INTO THE CITY OF INDRA, KING OF THE GODS.TOO FAR. YOUR END IS NEAR. 1 SHALL GO AND APPEAL TO /HILE,THE SAINTS ANP SAGES av COULD NO LONGER BEAR THE OF THEIR PENANCES AND OTHERWISE THIS EARTH‘ORD VISHNU, KARTAVIRYA ARJUNA NOW COVETS THE WEALTH OF THE VERY HEAVENS. HE MUST BE DESTROYED. b t WILL TAKE AN AVATAR ON EARTH AS A BRAHMANA WITH UNUSUAL PHYSICAL PROWESS AND OVERPOWER Hi RENUKA AND « aFATHER, | WISH TO GO TO THE GANDHAMADANA MOUNTAINS ANP BY AUSTERE PENANCES GAIN LORD SHIVA*S FAVOUR . YOU HAVE PLEASED ME BY VOUR ,DEVOTION. WHAT IS IT THAT ‘YOU DEGIRE 2 | HAVE CET MY HEART ON THE + FIERY AXE, THE POWERFUL PARASHU.TAKING HIG: AXE, PARASHO- RAMA RETURNED TO HIG’ FATHER'S ASHRAM.OUR UNQUESTIONING | IT IG WELL eee PLEASES ‘WOU _DO. £ = ~ ASK ANY BOON YOUR re AND IT SHALL BE BROTHERS OURS. REFUCED. | HAVE CURSED THEM WITH MADNEgs., RESTORE MY MOTHER’S UFE ANC LOVE HER MY EXACTLY AS 1 HAPMEANHILIE KARTAVIRYA ARJUNA CONTINUED IN. HIG. TRANNY. OME DAY WHILE PACING ARROGANTLY ON THE SEASHORE, HE BECAN SHOOTING ARROWS INTO THE WATERS OF THE OCEAN. ANSWER THIS QUEGTION. |G THERE A MAN WHO CAN RIVAL ME 2 PARASHURAMA ,, THE SON OF UAMADAGNI.Y HE IS MORE THAN YOUR EQUAL.CLAIMED THAT PARASHURAMA 1@ MY EQUAL COME LET US PUT THIS CLAIM TO TEST. WE SHALL. THIS 1S A SO THEY WENT TO. JAMALAGNS. ASHRAM | WHERE 1¢ BS paracnueama? HE 1S: NOT HERE. QUT, PLEASE STAY AWHILE ANDTHAT NIGHT THe CALF ANP MADE OFF WITH KARTAVIRVA BRIUNA HAS REPAID OUR HOSPITALITY BY STEALING YOUR CALF. - WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HER, FATHER? WHY I SHE SO SAD 2? WHERE IS HER CALE? WHY ARE THEY SEPARATED 2-HE MARE HIS WAY BACK TO HIS: FATHER'S ASHRAM FATHER! FATHER! G | HAVE KILLED HIM, THE VILLAIN WHO STOLE "Px OUR INNOCENT CALF THEN THEY WENT 70 THE COW AND — GENTLE BACK YOUR CALF FOR YOU. : ALAS? HE IS DEAD AND THE CALF IS MISSING. OULD BE MURDERER.HE SHALL BE AVENGED! COME, LET US BA SEEK OUT THE MURDERER . PARASHURAMA, IS NOT TO BE SEEN ANYWHERE BY THAT'S RIGHT. WHE KILLED OUR FATHER. DION’T HE?TO THEIR FRIENDG AND SERVANTS AFTER COMMITTING SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME 2AG. PARASHURAMA CREMATED HIG FATHER'S BODY, HE TOOK A VOW. 1 SHALL NOT REST, DEAR FATHER , TILL | HAVE WIPED OUT @\ THE ENTIRE MARTIAL ff RACE OF THE as KSHATRIVAS KARTAVIRVA ARJIUNAS SOMS WERE THE FIRST TO. BE WIPED OUT.OF YOU Ig FATHER nie CRINTED ME EVERLASTING.BUT ALAS! HE KILLEO WITHOUT BUT PARASHURAMA WAS GENTLE DISCRIMINATION BOTH THE EVIL. AWD THE GOOD KSHATRIVAS., DF ic Ge uour care eS | /urverep my FATHER } | HAVE HARMED NONE. \ WHILE HE WAS A \. DEFENCELESS . eweWORK IS OVER. 1AM RELIEVED OF MY BURDEN. PLEASE C STOP HIM Now. | WILL SPEAK THE SPIRITS , OF HIS ANCESTORS. KASHAPA BY HIS SPIRITUAL POWERS, CALLED FORTH THE SPIRIT OF RICHIKA SO SHALL IT BE. HE WILL OBEY HIS ANCESTORS.| SHALL RECEIVE ACR OGG COME THE WEAPONS WITH BRAN Tos THE MYSTERIES OF HAVE NOW If THIE s 3 Des aay BODY AND mY WEAPONS. 1! CAN GIVE YOU EITHER, AS YOU CHOOSE,"a "Sa Z ,& amit ee ae a ey ie Vichailiital heritage of Tatia. Far the religious minded — 2 range of programmes in devotional music, and discourses of the great sants & gurus. Also for lovers uf Indian music, a wide choice af Classical, Light & Folk music. Renderad by leading masters. Over 40 programmes available, Write for a trae catalogue, 60-Playing time of each Cassette 60 minutes. Available with alt leading Music & Book Shops. 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