Five Ghosts

Bhishma said -
On his travels around the pilgrim places, Parashurama came across five ghosts near the site of Kurukshetra. The ghosts were devouring the dead. Parashurama asked them who they were. They said - Let us tell you about ourselves. Before that tell us who you are. You have matted locks in your head and are very handsome. You seem strong and have a lean physique.
Parashurama said I am a brahmin by birth who is roaming the earth visiting every pilgrim place.
The ghosts then said I am Sachimukha. The others are Shigrakh, Pashyurshit, Lekhak and Pathak. We live in the forests.
Parashurama said Why do have such weird names?
To this, Sachimukha said - Once I was the son of a merchant. Once I had a guest in my house whom I ignored. I ate my meal with my family not caring for the guest. I was then born as a ghost Sachimukha.
Shigrakh then said I was a hunter once. I used to steal from others. Once a guest came to my house and I drove the guest away. The guest cursed me to become a ghost and live on excreta and urine of others.
One ghost said I was a son of a priest. I was cruel and a miser. One day a brahmin came and said he was hungry and asked for some food. I drove the brahmin away and now I am born as the ghost Lekhak.
One ghost said I was a son of a merchant. Once a guest came asking for food. I defiled the food by first putting my saliva in it and then gave it. That is why I was born as the ghost Pashyurshit.
The last ghost said - We roam the cremation grounds eating excreta. We look for brahmins who do not perform regular worship, and use their bodies to travel. We look for those people who are not performing their duties and we live in them. Listen to me. I was born in a low caste house. When a guest came to my house, I refused to let the person in and acted as if I was sleeping. I was then cursed to become a ghost and became Pathak.
Parashurama asked them how would they get salvation. The Ghosts said if they came across an ideal person who was a devotee, they would get relieved.
While the ghosts were talking to Parashurama, all their sins were removed. The ghosts then took divine forms and bowing down to the sage , went to heaven. 

Parashurama

Bhishma said - Let me tell you more.
There is a great lake near the Brahmaputra river. It is here that the sage Parashurama had bathed to clean himself off the sin of killing his mother.
Yudhistira said - I am amazed. Why did a sage like Parashurama, kill his own mother?
Bhishma said -
Jamadagni was a great sage. He was married to Renuka. They had five sons, the youngest of whom was called Rama. One day Jamadagni asked Renuka to fetch water for his worship. Renuka went with the pitcher to get water. There she saw the aprasa Gritachi dancing. She stood watching the apsara and lost track on time. When she came back with the water, it was late. The sage got angry and asked his eldest son to cut off the head of Renuka. The eldest son did not want the sin of matricide in his hands and he refused. The sage asked the other three sons and they too refused.At this, the sage asked Rama to cut off the head of his mother and four brothers. Not thinking twice, Rama did that.
The sage was pleased and blessed him to be immortal and a great warrior. He asked his son to ask for something.
Rama said Please revive my mother and brothers.
Jamadagni did that and the four brothers and Renuka got up.
The sin of death was heavy in the hands of Rama.He was not able to throw down the axe from his hand. He asked his father what to do.
Jamadagni thought for a while and said The sin of killing ones mother is a grave one. For that you need to visit all the pilgrim spots. Once done, go to the brahmin Vishnuyasha. He will tell you how to loose the axe from your hand.
Rama started off.
He went to Gaya, Varanasi, banks of Ganga, Mansarovar, Prabhasa  and all other pilgrim spots across the land.
After that he went to the land of Kosala to meet Vishnuyasha.
Vishnuyasha wanted to know who he was.
Rama told him. Vishnuyasha told him to have a dip in the lake near Brahmaputra. The lake, he said, had whirlpools in it, and one had to be careful else the person would get pulled inside.
Vishnuyaksha said - Once a great sage Sutapa went to Brahma. There he happened to see the apsara Menaka with lustful eyes. The sage was cursed to live like a crocodile in the lake and devour anyone who went there. The sage asked how he would get relief. Brahma said When Rama with the axe (Parashu) went to the lake, the crocodile would be relieved.
When Parashurama went there, he saw the whirlpools trying to drown him. With his axe, he cut the current and the water quietened. Parashurama then had a bath there. The crocodile came and bit him. Parashurama pulled the crocodile to the shore. The crocodile, relieved of its curse, left the place.
Relieved of the sin, Parashurama went home.

Parashurama humbled

Continuing his tale, the sage Lomesh said - The place where you are now, is a great pilgrim spot. Anyone who comes here, attains Vaikuntha. This was the place where Parashurama was subdued.

Yudhistira wanted to know what had happened to Parashurama. Lomesh said - Years ago, there was a king called Dashratha who had four sons, who were incarnations of Vishnu. Lakshmi was born as the daughter of king Janaka.
Janaka had made a promise - any one who could break the bow of Shiva would marry his daughter.
The news went around and all came to try their luck.

In the ashrama of the sage Vishwamitra, Rama heard this. He was then living with Vishwamitra, helping the sage fight rakshasas.
Rama went to the palace of Janaka and broke the bow. Winning the hand of Sita, he was on his way back, when he came across Parashurama, who was holding a bow on his left shoulder and an axe (Parashu) in his right hand. He had a quiver on his back full of arrows and he had matted hair oh his head.

His eyes glowing, he said to Rama - You go, breaking a bow and taking Sita, in front of me. All kshatriya are my enemy. I have made the earth free of kshatriyas three hundred times. If you think you are brave, string my bow and show me.

Rama easily strung the bow. Parashurama then gave him a celestial arrow. Rama asked the sage, in which direction should he release the arrow.

The sage said Shoot the arrow and block my passage to heaven.

Rama shot the arrow and Parashurama's pride vanished.