(
Hinduism,
Sanksrit)
The sixth avatara of Vishnu, and his sixteenth purusha incarnation.
Parashurama is also known by the name of Bhrigupati (q.v.), and
is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam, thus:
"avatare shodashame
pashyan brahma-druho nripan
trih-sapta-kritvah kupito
bih-kshatram akaron mahim
In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as
Bhrigupati] annihilated the administrative class [kshatriyas] twenty-one
times, being angry with them because of their rebellion
against the brahmanas [the intelligent classes]."
Bhag., Canto 1, Ch. 3, Text 20
"kshatram kshayaya vidhinopabhritam mahatma
braham-dhrug ujjhita-patham narakarti-lipsu
uddhanty asav avanikantakam ugra-viryas
trih-sapta-kritva urudhara-parashvadhena
When the ruling administrators, who are known as the kshatriyas, turned
astray from the path of the Absolute Truth, being desirous to suffer in hell,
the Lord, in His incarnation as the sage Parashurama, uprooted those unwanted kings,
who appeared as the thorns of the earth. Thus He thrice seven times uprooted the
kshatriyas with His keenly sharpened chopper."
Bhag., Canto 2, Ch. 7, Text 22
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