Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1937

c8.1937

4) Boyhood and education. Paraśurāma spent his boyhood with his parents in the āśrama. An important event in his life then was his slaying his mother at the behest of his father. (See under Jamadagni, Para 6). Though Paraśurāma was a brahmin there is nothing on record to show that he did study the Vedas. Perhaps he might have had the Vedic instructions from his father during his life with him. He had even from the beginning shown an interest in learning Dhanurvidyā (archery). For obtaining proficiency in archery he went to the Himālayas and did penance to please Śiva for many years. Pleased at his penance Śiva on several occasions extolled the virtues of Paraśurāma. At that time the asuras (demons) acquired strength and attacked the devas. The devas complained to Śiva. Śiva called Paraśurāma and asked him to fight with and defeat the semdon. Paraśurāma was without weapons and he asked Śiva how he could go and fight the demons without weapons. Śiva said: "Go with my blessings and you will kill your foes." Paraśurāma did not wait for a moment. When Śiva thus assured him of success, on he went straight to fight with the demons. He defeated the asuras and came back to Śiva when the latter gave him many boons and divine weapons.