Who was Kartavirya Arjuna ? Why Parashurama killed Kartavirya Arjuna ?

Kartavirya Arjuna

Kartavirya Arjuna (कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन), also known as Sahasrabahu (सहस्त्रबाहु) was a king of an Haihayas kingdom (हैहयवंश) and Mahishmati was his capital which was situated on the banks of Narmada River.

He did tapasya of god Dattatreya and asked thousand hands as a boon.

Parashurama kills Kartavirya Arjuna

Kartavirya Arjuna along with his army, once visited the ashram of rishi Jamadagni.

The sage Jamadagni, who was engaged in great austerities in the forest, received the King very well, along with the King’s soldiers, ministers and army. He supplied all the necessities to these guests, as he possessed a Kamadhenu cow that was able to supply everything.

Kartavirya Arjuna thought that Jamadagni was more powerful and wealthy than himself because of possessing of the Kamadhenu. Therefore he wanted to possess that Kamadhenu, so his men forcibly took away the crying Kamadhenu, along with her calf to Mahishmati

When Parashurama, heard about Kartavirya Arjuna’s act, he became as angry and attacked the capital of Kartavirya Arjuna, thus killing him and taking back the Kamadhenu.