Sri Rama and Laksmana were returning to Ayodhya from Mithilapuri after the marriage along with the sage Vasistha through a deep forest when Parasurama blocked their way and addressing Sri Rama said thus,
Oh Rama, son of Dasaratha, I heard that you broke during the marriage of Sita the great Saiva bow of the palace of Janaka. It was a Saiva bow and I have now come here to test your prowess. I am giving you a Vaisnava bow now. Can you string this bow?”
Vasistha tried his best to pacify Parasurama. But Parasurama without heeding it started describing the story and greatness of the Saiva bow and the Vaisnava bow.
Then Sri Rama took the bow from Parasurama and started to string it. The brilliance of Sri Rama dazzled him and he stood dumbfounded at his skill. Parasurama was immensely pleased and he blessed Sri Rama. After that he went again to Mahendragiri to perform penance.
This same story is told in Kamba Ramayana with some slight changes:
Parasurama did not like Sri
Rama breaking the bow of his Guru Siva. So an angered Parasurama blocked the way of Sri Rama and challenged him to string and take aim with the mighty Vaisnava bow he (Parasurama) was carrying with him then.
Sri Rama with perfect ease took the bow, strung it, and taking the missile asked Parasurama to show the target. Parasurama was astonished and was in a fix. The missile could destroy even the entire Universe. So Parasurama asked Rama to aim at the accumulated tapobala (power accrued by penance) of his self and Rama did so. Then Parasurama surrendered to Sri Rama the Vaisnava bow and arrow and the Vaisnava tejas (divine brilliance) in him.
Parasurama after having carried out the purpose of his incarnation gave instructions to Sri Rama to continue the purpose of his incarnation and then after blessing Sri Rama went again to do penance at his holy asrama.
This same story is told by the sage Lomasa to the Pandavas during their exile in the forests. This story is much different from the previous ones:
“When the fame that Sri Rama was the best of Kings spread far and wide Parasurama once went to see Sri Rama. Giving him the bow and arrow with which he had done the mass massacre of the Ksatriyas he challenged him to striung it and take aim.
With a smile Sri Rama did so and then Parasurama said Rama should draw the string up to his ears. Sri Rama got angry and then on the face, which became fierce, by his anger, Parasurama saw besides himself, Aditya-Vasu-Rudras, Sadhyas, Balakhilyas, Devarsis, oceans, mountains, the Vedas and all such things of this universe. Sri Rama sent out his missile from the bow. The whole universe was thrown into chaos. Thunder and lightning rocked the world. Heavy rains flooded the whole and space. Burning stars and meteors fell to the ground.
Parasurama then knew that Sri Rama was the incarnation of Visnu and he stood bowing before him. Ashamed of his defeat he took leave of Sri Rama and went to Mahendragiri. When he reached there he found he had lost all his brilliance. Then the manes appeased and advised him to go and bathe in the river Vadhusara. Accordingly Parasurama went and bathed in the river and regained his lost brilliance.
Maha-bharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 99
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