Bhagavan Sri Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, achieved the remarkable feat of breaking the divine bow of Lord Shiva. This bow had been gifted by the sage Parashurama to King Janaka and was central to the Swayamvara of Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. By accomplishing this extraordinary task, Rama won Sita's hand in marriage.
Following their grand wedding celebrations in Mithila, the
marriage party, including Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and their entourage, set out
for Ayodhya. As they journeyed through the dense forests, they encountered the
formidable sage Parashurama, renowned for his fierce temper and unmatched
prowess. Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, wielded a bow of
immense power and was known for his asceticism and warrior skills.
Parashurama, still harboring a grudge over the breaking of
Shiva's bow—an act he considered a slight against both Lord Shiva and
himself—challenged Rama. He accused Rama of breaking an old and brittle bow and
questioned his true strength and valor. To test Rama's prowess, Parashurama
threw his own mighty bow at him with great force, daring him to lift and string
it.
With ease and grace, Rama caught the bow with his left hand.
Recognizing the challenge, he requested an arrow from Parashurama. Parashurama
handed over an arrow, and Rama swiftly lifted and strung the bow, demonstrating
his divine strength and skill.
As Rama prepared to release the arrow, he addressed
Parashurama with respect, saying, "I will not harm you, as you are a
revered Brahman. However, this arrow cannot go in vain. What should I do with
it?"
Parashurama, humbled and recognizing Rama's true identity as
Narayan (another name for Lord Vishnu), replied, "I acknowledge your
divine nature, O Rama. Please use this arrow to stop my path to heaven."
Understanding Parashurama's request, Rama aimed the arrow
and stopped Parashurama's way to heaven. With his path to heaven blocked,
Parashurama chose to retire to a life of meditation and penance, relinquishing
his warrior role and continuing his spiritual practices.
Thus, through this encounter, the divine nature of Sri Rama
was revealed, and Parashurama's journey took a significant turn, emphasizing
the themes of humility, recognition of the divine, and the transition from
martial prowess to spiritual asceticism.
This story is narrated in the Bengali Krittibasi Ramayana.