विनिःसृत्य ययौ वह्निः पार्श्वतो विधिवत्प्रभुः। आगम्याहवनीयं वै तैर्द्विजैर्मन्त्रतो हुतम्
The Fire, emerging properly from the side, approached the sacrificial altar, and, as prescribed, received the offerings that were chanted over by those twice-born men.
सतत्र विविधं हव्यं प्रतिगृह्यहुताशनः। ऋषिभ्यो भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रायच्छत दिवौकसाम्
There, O best of Bharatas, the eater of oblations accepted the various offerings and presented them to the gods on behalf of the sages.
निष्क्रामंश्चाप्यपश्यत्स पत्नीस्तेषां महात्मनाम्। स्वेष्वासतेषूपविष्टाः स्नायन्तीश्च यथासुस्वम्
As he was departing, he saw the wives of those great-souled sages, seated on their own seats and bathing as was proper for them.
रुक्मवेदिनिभास्तास्तु चन्द्रलेखा इवामलाः। हुताशनार्चिःप्रतिमाः सर्वास्तारा इवाद्भुताः
They were all shining like golden altars, spotless as moonbeams, resembling the flames of the sacrificial fire, and wondrous like stars.
स तत्रतेन मनसा बभूव क्षुभितेन्द्रियः। पत्नीर्दृष्ट्वा द्विजेन्द्राणां वह्निः कामवशं ययौ
Thereupon, his mind was disturbed; seeing the wives of the foremost Brahmins, Fire was overcome by desire.
भूयः संचिन्तयामास न न्याय्यं क्षुभितो ह्यहम्। साध्व्यः पत्न्यो द्विजेन्द्राणामकामा कामयाम्यहम्
He thought again: 'It is not right that I, agitated as I am, should desire the virtuous wives of the foremost Brahmins, who themselves are without desire.'
नैताः शक्या मया द्रष्टुं स्प्रष्टुं वाऽप्यनिमित्ततः। गार्हपत्यं समाविश्य तस्मात्पश्याम्यभीक्ष्णशः
'It is not proper for me to see or touch them without cause; therefore, I repeatedly look at them while entering the household fire.'
संस्पृशन्निव सर्वास्ताः शिखाभिः काञ्चनप्रभाः। पश्यमानश्च मुमुदे गार्हपत्यं समाश्रितः
As if touching them all with his golden flames, and gazing upon them, he took delight while abiding in the household fire.
निरुध्य तत्रसुचिरमेवं वह्निर्वनं गतः। मनस्तासु विनिक्षिप्य कामयानो वराङ्गनाः
Restraining himself there for a long time, Fire went to the forest, having fixed his mind on those women and longing for those excellent ladies.
कामसंतप्तहृदयो देहत्यागे विनिश्चितः। अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्त्रीणामग्निर्वनमुपागमत्
His heart scorched by desire, resolved to abandon his body, and unable to obtain the Brahmin women, Fire entered the forest.
स्वाहा तं दक्षदुहिता प्रथमाऽकामयत्तदा। सा तस्य च्छिद्रमन्वैच्छच्चिरात्प्रभृतिभामिनी
At that time, Svaha, daughter of Daksha, first desired him; that radiant one long sought an opportunity with him.
सा तं ज्ञात्वा यथावत्तु वर्हिं वनमुपागतम्। तत्त्वतः कामसंतप्तं चिन्तयामास भामिनी
Knowing that Fire had gone to the forest in such a state, truly burning with desire, the radiant one pondered.
अहं सप्तर्षिपत्नीनां कृत्वा रूपाणि पावकम्। कामयिष्यामि कामार्तं तासां रूपेण मोहितम्। एवं कृते प्रीतिरस् कामावाप्तिश्च मे भवेत्
'I will assume the forms of the wives of the Seven Sages and approach Fire, who is tormented by desire and captivated by their beauty. In this way, I will gain both his affection and the fulfillment of my desire.'
शिवा भार्या त्वङ्गिरसः शीलरूपगुणान्विता। तस्याः सा प्रथमं रूपं कृत्वादेवी जनाधिप
Śivā, the wife of Aṅgiras, endowed with virtue, beauty, and good qualities—her form the goddess first assumed, O lord of men.
जगाम पावकाभ्याशं तं चोवाच वराङ्गना। मामग्ने कामसंतप्तां त्वं कामयितुमर्हसि
She went near Fire and, as a splendid woman, said to him: 'O Agni, you ought to desire me, for I am burning with longing.'
करिष्यसि न चेदेवं मृतां मामुपधारय। `तवाप्यधर्मः सुमहान्भविता वै हुताशन
'If you will not do this, then know me as dead; and for you, O Fire, a great unrighteousness will result.'
अहमङ्गिरसो भार्या शिवा नाम हुताशन। सखीभिः सहिता प्राप्ता मन्त्रयित्वा विनिश्चयम्
'I am Śivā, wife of Aṅgiras, O Fire; I have come here with my companions, having resolved after deliberation.'
कथं मां त्वं विजानीषे कामार्तमितराः कथम्। यास्त्वया कीर्तिताः सर्वाः सप्तर्षीणां प्रियाः स्त्रियः
'How do you recognize me, who am tormented by desire, and how the others? All the beloved wives of the Seven Sages whom you have named?'
अस्माकं त्वं प्रियो नित्यं बिभीमस्तु वयं तव। त्वच्चित्तमिङ्गितैर्ज्ञात्वा प्रेषिताऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्
You are always dear to us, and we are dear to you, Bibhīmas. Understanding your thoughts and gestures, I have been sent to you.
मैथुनायेह संप्राप्ता कामाच्चैव द्रुतं च माम्। `उपयन्तुं महावीर्य पूर्वमेव त्वमर्हसि'। [जामयो मां प्रतीक्षन्ते गमिष्यामि हुताशन]
I have come here for union, driven by desire and haste; O mighty one, you should approach me first. [My co-wives await me; I will go to the fire.]
ततोऽग्निरुपयेमे तां शिवां प्रीतिमुदायुतः। प्रीत्या देवी समायुक्ता शुक्रं जग्राह पाणिना
Then Agni united with her, the auspicious one, filled with joy. The goddess, joined in affection, took the seed in her hand.
साऽचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूपं द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने। ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं वक्ष्यन्ति पावके
She thought: Those who see my form in the forest will accuse the wives of the Brahmins of falsehood and blame, O Pāvaka.
तस्मादेतद्रक्षमाणा गरुडी संभवाम्यहम्। वनान्निर्गमनं चैव सुखं मम भविष्यति
Therefore, to protect this, I will take the form of a Garuḍī. Leaving the forest will also be easy for me.
सुपर्णी सा तदा भूत्वा निर्जगाम महावनात्। अपश्यत्पर्वतं श्वेतं शरस्तम्बैः सुसंवृतम्
Then she became a Suparṇī and departed from the great forest. She saw a white mountain, covered with tall arrow-like pillars.
दृष्टीविषैः सप्तशीर्षैर्गुप्तं भोगिभिरद्भुतैः। रक्षोभिश्च पिशाचैश्च रौद्रैर्भूतगणैस्तथा
Guarded by snakes with seven heads and venomous gaze, wondrous in form, and by fierce rakṣasas, piśācas, and other terrifying beings.
राक्षसीभिश्च संपूर्णमनेकैश्च मृगद्विजैः। `नदीप्रस्रवणोपेतं नानातरुलताचितम्
Filled with rākṣasīs and many wild animals and birds, adorned with river springs and various trees and creepers.
सा तत्र सहसा गत्वा शैलपृष्ठं सुदुर्गमम्। प्राक्षिपत्काञ्चने कुण्डे शुक्रं सा त्वरिता शुभा
There, swiftly reaching the difficult mountain summit, she, the auspicious one, quickly cast the seed into a golden vessel.
शिष्टानामपि सा देवी सप्तर्षीणां महात्मनाम्। पत्नीसरूपतां कृत्वा रमयामास पावकम्
The goddess, assuming the form of the wives of the noble seven sages, delighted Agni.
दिव्यरूपमरुन्धत्याः कर्तुं न शकितं तया। तस्यास्तपःप्रभावेण भर्तृशुश्रूषणेन च
She was unable to assume the divine form of Arundhatī, due to the power of her austerity and service to her husband.
षट्कृत्वस्तत्तु निक्षिप्तमग्ने रेतः कुरुत्तम। तस्मन्कुण्डे प्रतिपदि कामिन्या स्वाहया तदा
Six times, O best of Kurus, Agni's seed was deposited; at each time, the desirous woman offered it with svāhā into the vessel.