शौनक उवाच पुराणमखिलं तात पिता तेऽधीतवान्पुरा। कच्चित्त्वमपि तत्सर्वमधीषे लौमहर्षणे॥
Shaunaka said: Your father read the whole of the Puranas in the days of yore. O Son of Lomaharshana, have you also made them your study?
पुराणे हि कथा दिव्या आदिवंशाश्च धीमताम्। कथ्यन्ते ये पुराऽस्माभिः श्रुतपूर्वाः पितुस्तव।॥
There are in the Puranas interesting stories and the history of the first generations of the wise men. We have heard them all recited by your father.
चैव ततो मया। तत्र वंशमहं पूर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भार्गवम्। कथयस्व कथामेतां कल्याः स्म श्रवणे तव॥
I am desirous of hearing the history of the Bhrigu race. Tell us that history. We are all attention to listen to you.
सौतिरुवाच यदधीतं पुरा सम्यक् द्विजश्रेष्ठैर्महात्मभिः। वैशंपायनविप्रायैस्तैश्चापि कथितं यथा॥
Sauti said : That which was formerly studied by the noble Brahmanas, which was studied and narrated by Vaishampayana and others.
यदधीतं च पित्रा मे सम्यक् तावच्छृणुष्व यो देवैः सेन्द्रैःसर्षिमरुद्गणैः॥ पूजितः प्रवरो वंशो भार्गवो भृगुनन्दन। इमं वंशमहं पूर्वं भार्गवं ते महामुने॥
Which was also studied by my father, has been acquired by me. Hear with all attention, O descendant of the Bhrigu race, the history of your race, respected by Indra and all the celestials, all the Rishis and the Marutas. In this great race the great and blessed Rishi Bhrigu was born.
निगदामि यथायुक्तं पुराणाश्रयसंयुतम्। भृगुर्महर्षिर्भगवान् ब्रह्मणा वै स्वयंभुवा॥ वरुणस्य क्रतौ जातः पावकादिति नः श्रुतम्। भृगोः सुदयितः पुत्रश्च्यवनो नाम भार्गवः॥
I shall properly relate, O great Rishi, the history of this race, as it is in the Puranas. We are told that great Bhrigu was begotten by selfexisting Brahma from the fire at Varuna's sacrifice. Bhrigu had a beloved son, named Chyavana.
च्यवनस्य च दायादः प्रमतिर्नाम धार्मिकः। प्रमतेरप्यभूत्पुत्रो घृताच्यां रुरुरित्युत॥
Chyavana had a virtuous son, named Pramati. He had a son, named Ruru by Ghritachi.
रुरोरपि सुतो जज्ञे शुनको वेदपारगः। प्रमद्वरायां धर्मात्मा तव पूर्वपितामहः॥
Ruru had a son by his wife Pramadvara. O Shaunaka, he was your grandfather; he was very virtuous and greatly learned in the Vedas.
तपस्वी च यशस्वी च श्रुतवान् ब्रह्मवित्तमः। धार्मिकः सत्यवादी च नियतो नियताशनः॥
He was devoted to asceticism, had great repute, was learned in the Shruti, truthful, virtuous, well-regulated in his meals and was the most eminent amongst the learned in the Vedas.
शौनक उवाच सूतपुत्र यथा तस्य भार्गवस्य महात्मनः। च्यवनत्वं परिख्यातं तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः॥
Shaunaka said : O Son of Suta, why was the illustrious son of Bhrigu named Chyavana? I ask you, tell me all about it.
सौतिरुवाच भृगोः सुदयिता भार्या पुलोमेत्यभिविश्रुता। तस्यां समभवद्गर्भो भृगुवीर्यसमुद्भवः॥
Sauti replied : Bhrigu had a very beloved wife, (named Puloma) who became quick with child by him.
तस्मिन् गर्भेऽथ संभूते पुलोमायां भृगूद्वह। समये समशीलिन्यां धर्मपत्न्यां यशस्विनः॥ अभिषेकाय निष्क्रान्ते भृगौ धर्मभृतां वरे। आश्रमं तस्य रक्षोऽथ पुलोमाभ्याजगाम ह॥
When the virtuous and chaste Pauloma was in that condition, one day the greatly famous and virtuous Bhrigu, leaving her at home, went to perform his ablutions. And it was then that a Rakshasa, named Puloma, came to the Rishi's hermitage.
तं प्रविश्याश्रमं दृष्ट्वा भृगोर्भार्यामनिन्दिताम्। हृच्छयेन समाविष्टो विचेताः समपद्यत॥
He, having entered into the hermitage, saw the irreproachable wife of Bhrigu. Seeing her he was filled with lust and lost his reason.
अभ्यागतं तु तद्रक्षः पुलोमा चारुदर्शना। न्यमन्त्रयत वन्येन फलमूलादिना तदा॥
Seeing that a guest had come, beautiful Puloma, entertained him with roots and fruits of the wood.
तां तु रक्षस्तदा ब्रह्मन् हृच्छयेनाभिपीडितम्। दृष्ट्वा हृष्टमभूद्राजन् जिहीर्षुस्तामनिन्दिताम्॥
O Rishi, the Rakshasa, having seen her, burnt in lust. He was very much delighted and he determined to carry away the irreproachable lady.
जातमित्यब्रवीत्कार्यं जिहीर्षुर्मुदितः शुभाम्। सा हि पूर्वं वृता तेन पुलोम्ना तु शुचिस्मिता॥
He said, “My desire is fulfilled.” So saying he seized that beautiful lady and carried her away. And in fact that lady of captivating smiles, was formerly betrothed to the Rakshasa by her father.
तां तु प्रादात्पिता पश्चाद् भृगवे शास्त्रवत्तदा। तस्य तत्किल्बिषं नित्यं हृदि वर्तति भार्गव॥
But he afterwards gave her away to the Rishi Bhrigu in due rites. Since then, O descendant of the Bhrigu race, this wound rankled deep in the heart of the Rakshasa.
इदमन्तरमित्येवं हर्तुं चक्रे मनस्तदा। अथाग्निशरणेऽपश्यज्ज्वलन्तं जातवेदसम्॥
He thought this very good opportunity to carry the lady away. Then he entered into the room of the holy fire where it was brightly burning.
तमपृच्छत्ततो रक्षः पावकं ज्वलितं तदा। शंस मे कस्य भार्येयमग्ने पृच्छे ऋतेन वै॥
The Rakshasa asked the burning fire, “O Agni! tell me whose rightful wife this lady is.
मुखं त्वमसि देवानां वद पावक पृच्छते। मया हीयं वृता पूर्वं भार्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी॥
You, O Agni, is the mouth of celestials, tell me, I ask you. This beautiful lady was formerly betrothed to me;
पश्चादिमां पिता प्रादाद्धगवेऽनृतकारकः। सेयं यदि वरारोहा भृगोर्भार्या रहोगता॥
was a But her vile father subsequently gave her to Bhrigu. (Tell me truly) if she can be truly called the wife of Bhrigu.
तथा सत्यं समाख्याहि जिहीर्षाम्याश्रमादिमाम्। समन्युस्तत्र हृदयं प्रदहन्निव तिष्ठति। मत्पूर्वाभार्यां यदिमां भृगुराप सुमध्यमाम्॥
As I have found her alone in the hermitage, I am determined to carry her away by force. My heart burns with rage when I think that Bhrigu has obtained this beautiful woman who was betrothed to me.
सौतिरुवाच एवं रक्षस्तमामन्त्र्य ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्। शङ्कमानं भृगोर्भार्यां पुन:पुनरपृच्छत॥
Thus did the Rakshasa ask the flaming fire again and again, whether the lady was Bhrigu's wife.
त्वमग्ने! सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरसि नित्यदा। साक्षिवत्पुण्यपापेषु सत्यं ब्रूहि कवे वचः॥
“O Agni, you always dwell in every creature as the witness of their piety and impiety. Answer my question truthfully.
मत्पूर्वाऽपहता भार्या भृगुणाऽनृतकारिणा। सेयं यदि तथा मे त्वं सत्यमाख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Bhrigu has appropriated her who was chosen by me as my wife. Tell me truly therefore, whether she is not truly my wife by first choice.
श्रुत्वा त्वत्तो भृगोर्भार्यां हरिष्याम्याश्रमादिमाम्। जातवेदः पश्यतस्ते वद सत्यां गिरं मम॥
Hearing from you whether she is Bhrigu's wife or not, I shall carry her away from the hermitage even in your presence. Therefore, answer me truthfully."
सौतिरुवाच तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सप्ताचिर्दुःखितोऽभवत्। भीतोऽनृताच्च शापाच्च भृगोरित्यब्रवीच्छनैः॥
Sauti said: Having heard his words, the seven flamed Deity felt himself very much in difficulty. He was afraid to tell an untruth and was equally afraid of Bhrigu's curse. He at last slowly said.
अग्निरुवाच त्वया वृता पुलोमेयं पूर्वं दानवनन्दन। किं त्वियं विधिना पूर्वं मन्त्रवन वृता त्वया॥
Agni said : "O Rakshasa, it is true that this Puloma was first betrothed to you, but she was not taken by you with (the necessary) holy rites and invocations.
पित्रा तु भृगवे दत्ता पुलोमेयं यशस्विनी। ददाति न पिता तुभ्यं वरलोभान्महायशाः॥
And her father gave this famous Puloma to Bhrigu in gift. He did not give her to you.
अथेमां वेददृष्टेन कर्मणा विधिपूर्वकम्। भार्यामृषि गुः प्राप मां पुरस्कृत्य दानव॥
O Rakshasa, she was duly taken by Bhrigu as his wife in my presence with all the Vedic rites.
सेयमित्यवगच्छामि नानृतं वक्तुमुत्सहे। नानृतं हि सदा लोके पूज्यते दानवोत्तम॥
This is she, I cannot tell a falsehood. O best of Rakshasa, falsehood is never respected in this world.