In the house of Jamadagni a Bráhman, and of his wife Reṇuká, during the Tretá Yuga, on the third day of the light half of the month of Vaiśákha, in the village of Rankaṭṭa* near Agra, this human form was born.

Kárttavírya of the Daitya* race, who had neither hands nor feet, was at that time on the throne. In great affliction on account of his misfor­tune, he abandoned the world and retired to the Kailása mountain to undergo penance. Mahádeva vouchsafing his favour, gave him a thousand arms and at his prayer bestowed on him the sovereignty of the three worlds. But he oppressed the deities for which reason they implored his destruc­tion, and their supplication was heard. They say that Jamadagni was descended from Mahádeva and Reṇuká from Aditi mother of the deities (A´dityas). She had five sons, the fifth being Paraśuráma. He was instructed by Mahádeva in the Kailása mountain, and Jamadagni his father worshipped in the desert. Kárttavírya was one day engaged in the pastime of hunting and he happened to pass by the hermitage of Jama­dagni and sought there to satisfy his hunger and thirst. The hermit brought forth food and drink, besides jewels and valuable presents befitting a monarch. The king was amazed and refused to touch them till he was informed concerning their possession. He replied that Indra, the ruler of the celestial regions, had bestowed upon him the cow Káma-dhenu which supplied him with all that he required. The king seized with avarice, demanded the cow. He answered that he could not comply with his request without the sanction of Indra, and that no earthly power could take possession of it. The king enraged determined to use force, but notwithstanding all the troops he could collect and his hostile attempts, he could not prevail. At length one night he came secretly and slew Jama­dagni, but found no trace of the cow. Reṇuká sent for her son Paraśu­ráma, and performing the funeral ceremonies of the deceased, burnt herself according to the custom of her people and laid upon her son the injunction to avenge her. Paraśuráma, endued with miraculous power, set out to engage the king, and twenty pitched battles took place. In the last, the king was slain and the deities recovered their sovereignty. He then collected the wealth of the universe and bestowed it in alms at a sacrificial ceremony, and then abandoning the world, retired to the obscurity of a solitude.*

He is still believed to be living and his habitation is pointed out in the mountain Mahendra of the Konkan.