Dattatreya, radiant with divine brilliance, bestowed four boons upon a devoted seeker. The first boon granted the blessing of a thousand arms. With his second wish, the seeker asked that, should he ever act unrighteously, he be restrained by the virtuous; he desired to conquer the earth by righteousness and to rule it solely according to dharma. For his third boon, he wished that if he were ever to fall in battle, it would only be amidst a great war, after vanquishing many foes. Thus empowered, he subdued countless enemies and governed the entire earth—its seven islands and cities, encircled by the seven oceans—according to the law of the Kshatriyas. As he waged war with his thousand arms, his battle-standard and chariot would manifest by his own power. Across the seven islands, this wise king performed ten thousand uninterrupted sacrifices, as tradition recounts. Each sacrifice was graced with golden altars and golden sacrificial posts, attended by blessed gods dwelling in their aerial chariots, and always adorned with Gandharvas and Apsaras. The Gandharva Narada, having witnessed the king’s deeds and greatness, sang songs in his honor. It was said that no human could attain the path of Kartavirya—neither by sacrifice, nor by gifts, austerities, valor, or learning. On the seven islands, he alone, armed with sword and bow, riding his chariot, was king; no other attendant was seen there. There was no loss of property, no sorrow, nor confusion, so great was the king’s power, protecting his subjects with righteousness. This universal emperor ruled for eighty-five thousand years, reigning seven times seven cycles. He became the protector of cattle and guardian of fields; through his yoga, he was Parjanya, the bringer of rain, and Arjuna. His thousand arms, hardened by the bowstring, shone with a thousand rays, like the autumn sun. With a thousand elephants, he conquered the assembly of Karkotaka in Mahishmati and established his city there. His eyes, lotus-like, and his speed, like the ocean in the rainy season, he played joyfully, bringing the monsoon. By his playful stirring, the Narmada river, adorned with garlands of golden flowers, approached in fear, her waves frowning and roaring. Once, pursuing her, he plunged into the great ocean, and, upon reaching the shore, brought the rainy season to the forest. When the great ocean was agitated by his thousand arms, the mighty demons dwelling in the underworld became submerged and motionless. Poisonous beings and fish, crushed by the waves, were tossed by whirlpools and foam. The king, with his thousand arms, churned the ocean as if it were the milk ocean surrounded by gods and demons. Frightened, thinking the nectar-ocean was being churned by Mandara, the beings suddenly rose up, seeing the mighty king. The great serpents bowed and became motionless, like banana groves at evening, still and windless. Mounting his chariot and stringing his bow with five hundred arrows, he bewildered Ravana and his army in Lanka, defeated and bound Ravana, and brought him captive to Mahishmati. Then Pulastya came and appeased Arjuna; at Pulastya’s request, the king released Ravana. The twang of his thousand arms resounded like the cracking of a great cloud-tree struck by lightning at the end of an age. Such immense might in battle was his, whose thousand arms Bhargava severed in combat, as if cutting a grove of golden palm trees. Once, when he was thirsty, Citrabhanu begged him; the lord of men gave Citrabhanu alms—the seven islands. He gave away ancient settlements, villages, and cities entirely. By the power of that illustrious king, the mountains and forests of Kartavirya were burned. Citrabhanu, together with the Haihayas, drained all the deserted hermitage and the islands of Varuna’s son. Long ago, Varuna had a distinguished son, the sage Vasistha, renowned and devoted to the waters. In anger and distress, the mighty sage cursed Arjuna, saying, “Because you did not spare this forest of mine, O Haihaya, for this difficult deed you have done, another will slay you. Arjuna, son of Kunti, will not be king. Arjuna Rama, of great might, foremost among warriors, will cut off your thousand arms, subduing you with force. A powerful ascetic Brahmana will slay you; for him, Rama became the agent of death by the curse of that wise one.” This king had formerly chosen a boon for himself; he had a hundred sons, among whom five were great chariot-warriors: Shura, Shurasena, Vrishti, Vrisha, and Jayadhvaja. Skilled in arms, strong, valiant, righteous, and renowned, these sons upheld his legacy. Jayadhvaja, son of the lord of Avanti, had a son named Talavangha, famed for his prowess. Thus, the story of Kartavirya’s might, his boons, his righteous rule, his great deeds, and the fates of his descendants unfolds, echoing through the ages.