Akritavarna was a wise sage, and a disciple of Parashurama. The Bhagavata 12th Skanda states that Suta, who regaled the sages at Naimisharanya, with his puranic stories, was a disciple of Akritavarna. Akritavarna has been praised across the scriptures.

As per Brahmandapurana Chapter 67, Parashurama was returning after receiving the divine weapons from Shiva, after long penance. He walked quickly through the forests to worship his gurus. As he walked past a cave in the Himalayas, he heard a cry. When he went inside to check, he found a Brahmin boy being attacked by a tiger. Parashurama killed the tiger with an arrow. The tiger then transformed into a Gandharva, and said that he had been cursed by a Brahmin into taking the form of a tiger. The Brahmin boy, who felt obliged to Parashurama, said that thanks to Parashurama, he was now Akritavarna (the one without a wound), and that he would like to be Parashurama’s disciple.

Akritavarna appears in the Mahabharata several times as a spokesperson for Parashurama. As per Mahabharata, Vanaparva, Chapters 115-117, Akritavarna recounted many stories of Parashurama to the Pandavas during their exile.

As per the Mahabharata Udyogaparva, Chapter 83, when Krishna was on his way to Hastinapura, Akritavarna met him. The Udyogaparva Chapter 173 mentions Akritavarna telling Duryodhana the history of the Kuruvansha.

As per Udyogaparva Chapter 179, verse 9, in the tale of Amba, the daughter of the king of Kashi, Akritavarna plays a crucial role. Amba, Ambika,  and Ambalika, the king’s daughters, were all brought by Bhishma to Hastinapura to be Vichitravirya’s wives. On knowing that Amba was in love with the king of Salva, Bhishma let her go, but the king rejected her. Amba roamed around and finally reached an ashram where her maternal ancestor Hotravahan lived. He sent her to Parashurama so  that she could ask him for advice. When Amba reached Parashurama’s abode, it was Akritavarna who consoled her and informed her when Parashurama would arrive. It was Akritavarna who advised Amba to seek revenge against Bhishma. He also encouraged Parashurama to take revenge for Amba, and served as Parashurama’s charioteer during the battle.

As per the Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 26, verse 8, in the Mahabharata battle, as Bhishma lay wounded on a bed of arrows, Akritavarana was among the sages who visited him.