Once, when the sage Bhrigu, foremost among the upholders of dharma, had departed from his hermitage to perform a sacred consecration, a demon named Puloma approached the tranquil forest abode. Entering the hermitage, Puloma beheld Bhrigu’s virtuous and beautiful wife. At the sight of her, a wave of desire overcame him, and he lost all self-restraint. Despite Puloma’s demonic nature, the gentle woman welcomed him with the offerings appropriate to a guest—wild fruits and roots from the forest. But Puloma, his mind clouded by longing, found his heart inflamed with joy and a fierce determination to take her for himself. He recalled that, in the past, he had sought this pure-smiling woman’s hand in marriage. Now, seeing her alone and unprotected, the sinful urge that always dwelt in his heart grew stronger. Thinking, “Now is my chance,” Puloma resolved to abduct her. But before acting, he noticed the blazing sacred fire, Jātavedas, burning nearby—a witness to all that transpired. Seeing Agni as a refuge, Puloma questioned the fire: “Tell me truly, O Agni, whose wife is she? You are the mouth of the gods; I invoke you by truth. This woman of noble complexion was once chosen by me. Later, her father gave her to Bhrigu, who never acts falsely. If she is now Bhrigu’s wife, secluded here, speak the truth, for I wish to take her from the hermitage. My heart burns with anger, consuming me. If Bhrigu has taken my former wife, the fair-waisted one, without my consent, today I will carry her away.” Puloma pressed Agni again and again, doubting whether the woman truly belonged to Bhrigu. “O Agni, you dwell within all beings; you are the witness to virtue and vice. Speak the truth, O wise one. My former wife was taken by Bhrigu, who acted falsely. If this is so, you must declare the truth to me. If you tell me she is Bhrigu’s wife, I will take her from the hermitage. O Jātavedas, speak a truthful word, as you see fit.” Hearing these insistent words, Agni, whose flames shine in seven tongues, was deeply troubled. “If I speak the truth, I may be cursed by the sage, knower of Brahman. If I speak falsely, I will surely fall into hell.” Torn between fear of falsehood and fear of a curse, Agni answered quietly, “She is Bhrigu’s wife.” Agni explained, “You, O child of the Dānavas, had once chosen Puloma’s daughter, but did you do so according to the prescribed rite, with proper mantras? Her illustrious father gave her to Bhrigu, not to you, seeking a better match. Then, following the Vedic rituals, Bhrigu obtained her as his wife, with me as witness. This is the truth as I know it; I cannot speak falsehood, for in this world, truth is always honored.” Upon hearing Agni’s words, the Rākṣasa abandoned all pretense, taking on the form of a brāhmaṇa and moving with the speed of thought and wind. In that moment, the embryo dwelling in the womb of Bhrigu’s noble wife fell forth, bursting out in anger—thus was born Cyavana. As Cyavana, radiant as the sun, emerged from his mother’s womb, the Rākṣasa, beholding the child’s blazing energy, was instantly reduced to ashes and released Bhrigu’s wife. With grief overwhelming her, Bhrigu’s wife, her hips lovely as ever, gathered her son Cyavana and fled. The revered grandsire Brahmā himself beheld her, weeping with eyes full of tears. The blessed Brahmā comforted the sorrowing bride, and from her tears a great river began to flow, following the path of the ascetic wife. Thus, a river was established, and Brahmā gave it the name Vadhūsarā, as it flowed toward Cyavana’s hermitage. Thus was Cyavana, mighty son of Bhrigu, born. Soon after, Bhrigu returned and saw his radiant wife and his newborn son. Angered by the events, Bhrigu questioned his wife Pulomā: “By whom were you revealed to that Rākṣasa who wished to seize you? For without being told, the demon would not have known you were my wife. Tell me the truth, for today I wish to curse the one responsible for this transgression.” Pulomā replied, “O blessed one, I was revealed to the Rākṣasa by Agni. Then, as I cried out like a curlew, the demon carried me off. I was freed by the radiance of your son; the Rākṣasa, reduced to ashes, released me and fell.” Hearing these words, Bhrigu, filled with intense anger, cursed Agni in his fury: “You shall become the devourer of all.” Agni, having been cursed, was angered and spoke: “O Brahman, what rash act have you committed against me? I strive in righteousness and always speak the truth. When questioned, I replied truthfully—what fault is there in me here? If a witness, knowing the truth, speaks otherwise when questioned, he destroys seven generations of his ancestors and descendants. And if one knows the truth but does not speak for the sake of justice, he is tainted by the same sin—there is no doubt about this.” Thus unfolded the tale of Bhrigu, Puloma, Agni, and the birth of Cyavana, with truth and righteousness tested in the fires of fate.