At the wish of the wise and illustrious Kartavirya Arjuna, a thousand arms manifested upon his body, and his chariot and banner appeared as well, just as tradition recounts. This great king, famed for his wisdom, performed ten thousand unobstructed sacrifices upon the islands, each abundant in gifts and offerings. Every sacrifice was adorned with golden sacrificial posts and altars, and the ceremonies were graced by gods arriving in their aerial chariots, always beautified by the presence of Gandharvas and Apsarases. During one such grand sacrifice, the Gandharva Narada sang a song, extolling the greatness of Kartavirya, the royal sage. It is said that no Kshatriya could ever attain the path of Kartavirya—whether by sacrifice, generosity, austerity, valor, or learning. With sword, discus, bow, and arrows in hand, riding his chariot, Kartavirya traversed the seven islands as a yogi, vigilantly watching over thieves. Kartavirya reigned for eighty-five thousand years, becoming a universal emperor, his treasury filled with all manner of precious gems. By his yogic power, he transformed himself into a herdsman and protector of fields, and even became Arjuna, the bringer of rain. His thousand arms, hardened by the bowstring, shone with a thousand rays like the autumn sun. At Mahishmati, Kartavirya conquered the serpent Karkotaka’s son among men and settled him in that city. In the rainy season, the king would playfully cross the rushing ocean currents, delighting in the challenge of the opposing stream. As he sported on the shore, adorned with a garland of rival flowers, the river Narmada, frightened by the frown of his waves, timidly approached him. Kartavirya alone, with his thousand arms, plunged into the great ocean and caused the rain-swollen Narmada to surge with force. When the ocean was agitated by his arms, the mighty demons dwelling in the netherworld became utterly motionless. He churned the ocean, scattering great waves, submerging fish and whales, and tossing up masses of foam struck by the wind, making the waters impassable. The gods, startled by the churning, suspected the birth of nectar, as if the Mandara mountain were being used to churn the ocean once more. The great serpents became motionless, their heads stilled like banana trunks at sunset. Having strung his bow and set it with five arrows, Kartavirya bewildered Ravana and his army in Lanka by force. He conquered and bound Ravana, bringing him to Mahishmati and imprisoning him. Pulastya, Ravana’s grandfather, came to Kartavirya Arjuna to appease him, and after being soothed, Kartavirya released Ravana. From his thousand arms arose the sound of the bowstring, like the thunderclap of a thousand clouds at the end of an age, or the crash of Indra’s bolt. Yet, such is the power of fate: Bhargava struck him down. Kartavirya’s thousand arms, shining like golden palm trees, were severed in that place. Enraged, the lord cursed Arjuna: “Because you, Haihaya, burned my renowned forest, another will accomplish this difficult deed and take it from you. Having first cut off your thousand arms with force, a powerful and ascetic Brahmin of the Bhargava line will slay you.” Thus, Rama became his death by the curse of the wise, a boon that Kartavirya himself had chosen in earlier times. Kartavirya had a hundred sons, five of whom were great chariot-warriors—skilled in weapons, strong, valiant, righteous, and mighty. Among them were Shurasena, Shura, Dhrishta, Kroshtri, Jayadhvaja, Vaikarta, and Avanti. Jayadhvaja’s son was the mighty Talajangha, whose own sons, known as the Talajanghas, numbered a hundred. Among the Haihayas, five clans are renowned: the Vitihotras, Sharyatas, Bhojas, Avantis, and Vritihotras. There were also the valiant Kundikeras and Talajanghas. Vitihotra’s son was the powerful and unconquerable Anarta, whose son was Mitrakarshana. Kartavirya Arjuna, the thousand-armed king, protected his subjects with righteousness and true intent. He conquered the earth up to the ocean’s edge with his bow. Whoever recites his name upon rising attains good fortune, will not suffer loss of wealth, and what is lost will be regained. Whoever tells the story of Kartavirya’s birth with a pure and devoted heart is honored in heaven. Now, the question arose: for what reason did Kartavirya, having displayed such might, burn the forest of the great-souled Apava? How could he, the protector of the people, burn that sacred forest? The Sun, taking the form of a twice-born, approached Kartavirya and said, “Grant me a single satisfaction; I am the Sun, O lord of men.” Kartavirya replied, “O blessed one, by what means do you find satisfaction, O illuminator? What kind of food shall I give? Having offered it, I will provide.” The Sun answered, “Give me all that is immovable as food, O bestower of boons. By that I would be satisfied; that is my satisfaction, O king.” Kartavirya replied, “All the immovable things cannot be burned up by your energy and power, O best among those who burn. Therefore, I bow to you.” Thus unfolds the story of Kartavirya Arjuna, the thousand-armed king, whose deeds and destiny echo through the ages.