36 - Description of the battle between Kartavirya and Bhrugu 

Narayana said - О Narada, after the killing of Matsyaraja, the king who was well-versed in the art of welfare and also the scripture on the subject deputed Bruhadvala, Somadatta, Vidharbha, Mithileshvara, Nishidheshvara and Magadheshvara, who were the great warriors. All these kings came forward to fight against Parashurama the son of Jamadagni. 

Parashurama and all his brothers blocked their forward movement with the shooting of several arrows and weapons. The warriors too shot numerous arrows besides divine weapons. They also stopped the forward movement of the brother of Parashurama. 

Finding his brothers defeated Bhrugu held the Pinaka-bow which was emitting burning flames like fire and came forward in the battle-field. 

Thereafter the valorous Parashurama used Nagapasha and the immensely valorous Somadatta neutralised it with the use of Garudastra. Thereafter Bhrugu using the trident of Shiva killed Bruhadvala with a blow of the club, Vidharbha with fists, Mithila, with Mudgara (huge club), Naishadha, with the use of shakti, Magadheshvara with kicks and all the army was destroyed with the use of weapons. 

Parashurama the great warrior like the fire of dissolution moved forward and killing all the kings rushed towards Kartavirya. 

The great kings finding Bhrugu approaching them for a fight removing Kartavirya aside started this battle themselves. 

Out of them, a hundred belong to Kanyakubja, a hundred to Saurashtra, a hundred to Rashtriya, a hundred valorous kings, a hundred noble kings, a hundred from king of Bengal, a thousand from Maharashtra, a hundred from Gujarata and others happened to be the kings of Kalinga. 

All of them created a net with shooting the arrow and covered Parashurama with it.  Parashurama on his part cut-off all the arrows and emerged as if the sun emerges from a fog. 

For three nights Parashurama continued the battle with those kings and he emerged victorious like the sun who emerges out of the sky. He cut off all the soldiers like the cutting of the trunk of a banana tree and after doing so, he killed all the kings with the use of the trident of Shiva.

Finding them killed Suchandra who was born in the solar race came forward with a lakh of kings for a fight. 

The king was accompanied by twelve akshuhinis of army. Parashurama fought there with great anger like a lion attacking other lions. 

The valorous Bhrugu then using the trident of Shiva killed the lakh of kings along with the twelve akshuhinis of army. 

After killing the army Parashurama started fighting with Suchandra. The valorous Bhrugu shot the Nagastra at king Suchandra which was neutralised by the king with the use of Garudastra. He then started attacking the son of Bhrugu again and again. 

Finding Suchandra behaving thus, Bhrugu shot Narayanastra having the lustre of hundreds of suns. 

The lion among the kings, finding Narayanastra approaching him, got down from his chariot and stood on the crown. He threw away all his weapons and bowed before it reciting the mantras of Shiva and Vishnu. 

Finding him going down, the Narayanastra left the king and went back to Narayana. This completely surprised Parashurama.

Thereafter Bhrugu got enraged and shot for the killing of the king, shakti, musala, tomara, pattisa, club and battle-axe but Kali who was lodged on the chariot of Suchandra, caught hold of all the weapons in her hand. Thereafter, Parashurama made use of the trident of Shiva, which reached the king and adorned his neck like a garland. 

Thereafter, Parashurama spotted Kali there, who was wearing the garland of skulls, having a terrific face and horrible appearance.

Bhrugu on his part throwing away all the weapons including Pinaka-bow stood in reverence to the goddess and started eulogising the goddess Mahamaya. 

Parashurama said - I bow in reverence to the wife of Shiva who is the essence of all; I bow in reverence to her again and again. She is the one who destroys misfortune and is known as Mahamaya, I bow in reverence to her. 

She is the one who sustains the universe; I offer my salutation to her again and again. She is the creator of the universe. I bow in reverence to the mother of the universe and also the one who is the cause of the same, I bow in reverence to her.

O goddess, you are the destroyer of the universe and also its mother. Be pleased with me as I have come to take refuge under your feet; let me fulfil my vow. 

In case you turn your face against me, no one on earth can save me. Therefore, О pleasant one, the bestower of grace on devotees, you be pleased with me. 

О beautiful faced goddess, in earlier times, you had bestowed me with a boon in the presence of Shiva; you kindly make it a success.

Thereafter hearing the prayer of Parashurama, the son of Renuka, the goddess Ambika was pleased. There was a divine voice from the sky which declared that the king should not be afraid of anyone. The goddess at the same time disappeared from the scene. Whosoever recites this stotra composed by Bhrugu, will cross over all the dangers playfully.

He will be adored in all the three lokas and shall become the best. He will be adored in all the three lokas and will be victorious. He would become the best of the intellectuals and shall destroy all his enemies. 

In the meantime, Brahma arrived in front of the religious-minded Bhrugu and revealed the secret to him. 

Brahma said - "O virtuous one, О Parashurama, I am going to reveal a secret of the earlier times which can be helpful to you in becoming victorious over Suchandra. You please listen to me. In the earlier times, Suchandra was provided with a kavacha of ten letters of Durvasa for the adoration of Mahavidya and Bhadrakali.

The kavacha of Bhadrakali is beyond the reach of gods. It destroys all the enemies and is adorable in the three worlds. It could become the cause of conquering the three worlds. That kavacha has been tied around the neck of the king and till such time as the kavacha remains there, no one on earth can defeat the king. 

Therefore, О Bhrugu, you go and approach the king demanding for the kavacha. The king is born in the solar race and is quite religious minded and a giver of charities. He will give away the kavacha and the mantra besides other details on your demand. 

О sage, Bhrugu then went to the king in the form of an ascetic and begged for the astonishing type of kavacha from the king. 

The king handed over gracefully the mantra and the kavacha to Bhrugu who ultimately killed the king with the use of the trident of Shiva.