Not rivers alone but mountain and forests

 Once, the thirsty Surya deva begged Kartavirya Arjuna for alms. As alms, Kartavirya Arjuna gave Surya the seven continents of the earth.

Thus, Surya started burning all the cities, towns, villages, and cowherd colonies. Blazing, Surya deva also started burning mountains and forests. When Surya was burning the seven continents, Sage Apava’s (a son of Varuna) ashram was also burned.

Rishi Apava was enraged. He knew that Kartavirya Arjuna was the cause of this. He cursed Arjuna that he would die at the hands of Parshuram. On learning that Kartavirya Arjuna wanted to die at the hands of a great person like Parshuram (one of his boons from Dattatreya), Rishi Apava decided to add to the curse.

“May your exploits and achievements be bettered by another Arjuna. You have burnt a whole forest. But this Arjuna will do the same much more. He will outshine your accomplishments!” Rishi Apava cursed.

As per Rishi Apava’s curse, during the Mahabharata, Arjuna the Pandava was born. He burnt the Khandava forest and did much more which surpassed Kartavirya Arjuna.

Killing Jamadagni

Once, Kartavirya Arjuna was troubling Varuna. He asked, “I am strongest in the entire world. I have even beaten Indra, the king of the devas. Is there anyone greater than me?”

“Sage Jamadagni’s son Parshuram had defeated countless Kshatriyas. He is the only one who can defeat you,” Varuna replied.

Arjuna was enraged. He wanted to be the most powerful in the world. He immediately went to Jamadagni’s ashram. Arjuna was greeted kindly. Jamadagni served food to Arjuna and his entire army from the divine cow, Kamadhenu. Arjuna wanted the cow and told his minister Chandragupta to go ask for it.

“O King, unfortunately, I cannot give you this cow. I need it for religious ceremonies,” Jamadagni refused.

Soon, the two started furiously arguing over the cow. After some time, Kartavirya Arjuna lost his cool. He took out his sword and chopped off the head of Sage Jamadagni. Arjuna then seized Kamadhenu and took her back to Mahishmati.

Parshuram had been out at that time. When he returned, he saw his father’s head lying on the ground. He was shocked. His mother Renuka told him what happened. Parshuram decided to take revenge on Kartavirya Arjuna.

Death by Parshuram

Parshuram marched to Mahishmati. The seventeen akshaunis of Kartavirya Arjuna came to meet him.

In the following battle, Parushuram massacred the entire army of Arjuna. Parshuram and Arjuna then had a fierce battle in which Parshuram finally killed Arjuna with the battleax given to him by Shiva.