Paraśurāma in the Padma Purāṇa

The Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa tells the story of Paraśurāma, son of Jamadagni. It follows the Surabhi cow that Indra gave to Jamadagni, the killing of Jamadagni, Paraśurāma’s revenge, his Aśvamedha yajña (horse sacrifice), his gift of the earth to the brāhmaṇas, and his retreat to the āśrama of Nara and Nārāyaṇa at Badarikāśrama.

Jamadagni and the Surabhi cow

The ṛshi Jamadagni, a descendant of Bhṛgu, lived an exemplary life in his āśrama with his wife Reṇukā and his son Paraśurāma. Indra was pleased with Jamadagni’s tapas (austerity). He gave Jamadagni the divine Surabhi cow, the wish-fulfilling cow that can give anything that is needed. With Surabhi, Jamadagni kept a perfectly welcoming āśrama.

Kārtavīrya Arjuna’s offence

Kārtavīrya Arjuna was the thousand-armed king of Māhishmatī. He had received a vara (a boon) from Dattātreya. He came to Jamadagni’s āśrama on a hunting trip. Jamadagni received the king and his huge army with kindness, and used Surabhi to give them everything they needed.

Kārtavīrya wanted the cow for himself. Against Jamadagni’s wishes, he took Surabhi away. Later, Kārtavīrya came again to the āśrama (or his sons did, in some versions) when Paraśurāma was away, and killed Jamadagni.

Paraśurāma’s revenge

Paraśurāma came back and found his father dead. He was filled with righteous anger. First he went after Kārtavīrya Arjuna and killed the thousand-armed king with his axe. He brought back the Surabhi cow.

Then he decided that the harm done to the brāhmaṇas by proud kshatriyas must end completely. He took up the task of clearing the earth of all the wicked kshatriyas. He went round the earth twenty-one times and destroyed every kshatriya clan that had become cruel. The blood of these kshatriyas filled five ponds at Samantapañcaka.

The Aśvamedha and the gift of the earth

When this work was done, Paraśurāma performed a great Aśvamedha on the shore of the ocean. Then he gave the whole earth, all the land he had won, to the brāhmaṇas and shared it among them. He gave away everything he owned and kept nothing for himself.

Retreat to Nara and Nārāyaṇa

Paraśurāma had finished his task on earth. He went to Badarikāśrama, the holy place in the Himālaya, to the āśrama of Nara and Nārāyaṇa. He still practises tapas there.

In the line of avatāras (descents of Bhagavān Vishṇu), Paraśurāma’s meeting with Rāma, son of Daśaratha, came on the road after Rāma broke Śiva’s bow at Sītā’s svayaṃvara. That meeting marked the change from the age of Paraśurāma to the age of Rāma.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 241