तीर्थयात्रा पर्व — जमदग्नि का वध

Akritavrana said: The greatly ascetic Jamadagni devoted himself to the study of the Vedas. Thereupon he performed great austerities. Pursuing a methodical course of study, he got a mastery over the Vedas.

O king, going to the ruler of men, Prasenjit, he asked Renuka in marriage; and the king bestowed her upon him.

Having got Renuka as his wife, that son of Bhrigu came with her to the hermitage; and assisted by her he began to practise asceticism.

Four sons were born of her, Rama being the fifth. Though the youngest, Rama became superior to all in merit.

Once upon a time when her sons had all gone away to gathering fruits, Renuka of rigid vows went to bathe. saw

O king, when, she was going at pleasure, Renuka Chitraratha, the king of Martikavata. Seeing the king adorned with garlands of lotus sporting in the water with his wives, Renuka was filled with desire.

Being unable to control her this unlawful desire, she became polluted; she then returned to the hermitage much frightened at heart.

Having seen her deprived of the lustre of chastity and full of giddiness, that greatly effulgent and mighty Rishi reproached her by crying “fie".

There came then the eldest of Jamadagni's son, named Rumanvan and then Sushena, then Vasu and then Vishvavasu.

The exalted Rishi one after the other asked them to kill their mother. But they were confounded and could not utter a word.

Then he cursed them in great anger; and having been thus cursed they lost their sense and became like inanimate objects. They became in conduct like beasts and birds.

Then that slayer of hostile heroes, Rama, came to the hermitage last of all. To him said the greatly ascetic, the mighty armed Jamadagni,

“O son, kill your this sinful mother without the least compunction.” Thereupon Rama took up an axe and cut off his mother's head.

O great king, the anger of the illustrious Jamadagni was then suddenly appeased; and being much pleased he thus spoke,

"O child, O virtuous man, you have performed this difficult task at my bidding. Ask me, I shall grant you whatever you desire in your heart.” There upon he asked that his mother might be restored to life, that he might not be haunted by the remembrance of this cruel deed, that he might not be touched by any sin and that his brothers might be restored to their former state that he might be unrivalled in battle and that he might obtain long life. O descendant of Bharata, the greatly ascetic Jamadagni granted him all that he desired.

O lord, once at a time when his sons had again gone out (to gather fruits), the mighty son of Kirtavirya, the king of the country near the sea-shore, came to the hermitage.

When he came to the hermitage, he was hospitably received by the Rishi's wife. But proud of prowess, he was not pleased with the reception. By force and in defiance of all resistance, he seized and carried off from the hermitage the chief cow whose milk supplied the sacred Ghee, not at all heeding the loud lowing of her calf. And he wantongly pulled down the trees of the forest.

When Rama came home, his father told him all that had happened. And seeing the calf lowing piteously, Rama became exceedingly angry.

He rushed towards the son of Kartavirya who was under the shadow of death. The slayer of the hostile heroes, the descendant of Bhrigu, displayed his prowess in battle. O king, with sharpened arrows which were shot from a beautiful bow, he cut down Arjuna's one thousand arms each of which was like a massive iron bolt (for barring the door).

Being under the shadow of death, he was overpowered by Rama. Then the relatives of Arjuna, with their wrath excited against Rama.

Rushed at Jamadagni (one day, when Rama was absent from the hermitage. Although he was powerful they killed him for he was engaged in asceticism.

O Yudhishthira, attacked by them he again and again piteously uttered the name of Rama. The sons of Kirtavirya pierced Jamadagni with their arrows; and having thus persecuted their enemy, they went their way. When they had gone away and when Jamadagni had breathed his last. Rama, the descendant of the Bhrigu's race, came back to the hermitage with fuels for religious rites. The hero saw his father who had been killed. Being exceedingly grieved, he lamented for the sad fate that had befallen his father.