Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Sage Rcika, and Birth of Jamadagni and Parasurama
Who is Sage Rcika, and how did he fulfill the unusual demand of the king? How were Jamadagni and Parasurama born?
Once Sage Rcika, a scion of Sage Bhrgu, said to the King Gadhi of Pururava lineage, “ I desire to marry your daughter Satyavati”.
Considering him an unworthy match, the king made an unusual demand to the Sage, “Let 1000 white horses with one black ear be given as the price of the girl.
The Sage, having understood the intention of the King, sought the presence of Lord Varuna and got the horses delivered to the king. Having met the demand, King Gadhi had to give away his daughter in marriage to Sage Rcika.
Sage Rcika performed a sacrifice to fulfill the wishes of his wife and his mother-in-law, each of them desired to have a son.
The Sage prepared an offering called Caru and uttered mantras differently to their requirements (a brahmana progeny for his wife and a kshatriya progeny for his mother-in-law). Caru is an oblation of rice, barley, and pulses boiled with milk and butter.
Meanwhile, King Gadi's wife thought his son-in-law, Sage Rcika, might have prepared a more effective ‘Caru’ for his wife, Satyavati. She requested Satyavati to give her share of ‘Caru’ in exchange.
The Sage, having understood this act, politely told his wife “ You have made a grave mistake. Your son will be a cruel chastiser while your brother will be foremost among the brahmanas.
Satyavati requested her husband to modify it, but the Sage said he cannot do so but can further it into the next generation. Accordingly, Jamadagni was born to Satyavati, and Viswamitra was born to King Gadi's wife.
Jamadagni married Renuka and had many children. The youngest among them was Parasurama, a manifestation of Lord Narayana.
Lord Parasurama went around the earth 21 times and destroyed sinful kshatriya kings. Foremost among them was Karthaveerarjuna of the Haihaya race.
Source,: Bhagavatha Mahapurana
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