Introduction
Parashurama, "Rama with the axe", is a sage of the Bhrigu line and a great warrior. He is regarded in tradition as an avatar of Vishnu. In the Ramayana he appears on Rama's return from Mithila.
This article primarily follows the Valmiki Ramayana. Where a well-known detail comes from a later retelling or tradition, the article identifies it.
Family
The challenge
As Dasharatha's party returned from the wedding, Parashurama blocked the road. He had heard that Rama had broken the bow of Shiva, and challenged him to string the bow of Vishnu. Dasharatha begged Parashurama to spare his son.
Rama took the bow, strung it, and set an arrow to it. He said that the arrow could not be wasted, and Parashurama had to choose: to lose his power to travel to the heavens, or the worlds he had earned by penance. Parashurama gave up the second, and left for the mountain Mahendra.
In the Puranas and the Mahabharata
According to later tradition, Parashurama had previously destroyed the warrior class twenty-one times over, to avenge his father. He is also said to be the teacher of Bhishma, Drona and Karna in the Mahabharata.