सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। सर्वेषामेव नो मान्यः स तावत्प्रतिपाल्यताम्
He speaks truth, is devoted to self-restraint, ascetic, firm in his vows; he is honored by all of us, so let him be awaited.
तस्मिन्नध्यासति गुरावासनं परमार्चितम्। ततो वक्ष्यसि यत्त्वां स प्रक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तमः
When the teacher is seated in the highly revered seat, then you shall speak whatever he, O best of twice-born, asks you.
एवमस्तु गुरौ तस्मिन्नुपविष्टे महात्मनि। तेन पृष्टः कथाः पुण्या वक्ष्यामि विविधाश्रयाः
So be it. When that great-souled teacher was seated, I will recount the sacred stories of various kinds that he asked about.
सोऽथ विप्रर्षभः सर्वं कृत्वा कार्यं यथाविधि। देवान्वाग्भिः पितॄनद्भिस्तर्पयित्वाऽऽजगाम ह
Then that foremost of Brahmins, having performed all his duties as prescribed, having satisfied the gods with offerings, the ancestors with water, and the sages with words, indeed departed.
यत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धाः सुखासीना धृतव्रताः। यज्ञायतनमाश्रित्य सूतपुत्रपुरस्पराः
There, where the Brahmarshis and Siddhas, steadfast in their vows, sat comfortably, having gathered at the sacrificial place, with Sauti seated before them.
ऋत्विक्ष्वथ सदस्येषु स वै गृहपतिस्तदा। उपविष्टेषूपविष्टः शौनकोऽथाब्रवीदिदम्
When the officiating priests and the members of the assembly were seated, the householder also took his seat; then Shaunaka spoke these words.
पुराणमखिलं तात पिता तेऽधीतवान्पुरा। `भारताध्ययनं सर्वं कृष्णद्वैपायनात्तदा।' कच्चित्त्वमपि तत्सर्वमधीषे रौमहर्षणे
O dear one, your father once studied the entire Purana in former times, and all the Mahabharata from Krishna Dvaipayana; I hope you too have studied all that, O son of Romaharshana.
पुराणे हि कथा दिव्या आदिवंशाश्च धीमताम्। कथ्यन्ते ये पुराऽस्माभिः श्रुतपूर्वाः पितुस्तव
For in the Purana are told divine stories and the ancient lineages of the wise, which we have heard before from your father.
तत्र वंशमहं पूर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भार्गवम्। कथयस्व कथामेतां कल्याः स्मः श्रवणे तव
Among those, I wish first to hear of the lineage of Bhrigu; tell us this story, for we are blessed to listen to you.
यदधीतं पुरा सम्यग्द्विजश्रेष्ठैर्महात्मभिः। वैशंपायनविप्राग्र्यैस्तैश्चापि कथितं यथा
What was once properly studied by the best and most noble Brahmins, by the foremost sage Vaishampayana and others, and as it was told by them—
यदधीतं च पित्रा मे सम्यक्कैव ततो मया। तावच्छृणुष्व यो देवैः सेन्द्रैः सर्षिमरुद्गणैः
And what was thoroughly learned by my father, I too have studied just as well; now listen to that which was honored by the gods, Indra, the seers, and the Maruts.
पूजितः प्रवरो वंशो भार्गवो भृगुनन्दन। इमं वंशमहं पूर्वं भार्गवं ते महामुने
The illustrious Bhrigu lineage, honored by the gods, O descendant of Bhrigu, I will now recount to you, O great sage, the ancient Bhrigu line.
निगदामि यथायुक्तं पुराणाश्रयसंयुतम्। भृगुर्महर्षिर्भगवान्ब्रह्मणा वै स्वयंभुवा
I will relate it properly, as it is connected with the Puranas: the great sage Bhrigu, the blessed one, was created by Brahma, the self-born.
वरुणस्य क्रतौ जातः पावकादिति नः श्रुतम्। भृगोः सुदयितः पुत्रश्च्यवनो नाम भार्गवः
It is said that he was born at the sacrifice of Varuna, from fire; Bhrigu's beloved son was the Bhargava named Chyavana.
च्यवनस्य च दायादः प्रमतिर्नाम धार्मिकः। प्रमतेरप्यभूत्पुत्रो घृताच्यां रुरुरित्युत
And Chyavana's heir was Pramati, righteous in conduct; and Pramati's son, born of Ghritachi, was named Ruru.
रुरोरपि सुतो जज्ञे शुनको वेदपारगः। प्रमद्वरायां धर्मात्मा तव पूर्वपितामहः
Ruru's son was born, Shunaka, master of the Vedas, righteous in soul, your forefather, born of Pramadvara.
तपस्वी च यशस्वी च श्रुतवान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः। धार्मिकः सत्यवादी च नियतो नियताशनः
He was an ascetic, renowned, learned, foremost knower of Brahman, righteous, truthful, self-restrained, and moderate in eating.
सूतपुत्र यथा तस्य भार्गवस्य महात्मनः। च्यवनत्वं परिख्यातं तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः
O son of Suta, as the great-souled Bhargava's transformation into Chyavana is well known, tell me of that as I ask.
भृगोः सुदयिता भार्या पुलोमेत्यभिविश्रुता। तस्यां समभवद्गर्भो भृगुवीर्यसमुद्भवः
Bhrigu's beloved wife, famed as Puloma, bore a child conceived from Bhrigu's seed.
तस्मिन्गर्भेऽथ संभूते पुलोमायां भृगूद्वह। समये समशीलिन्यां धर्मपत्न्यां यशस्विनः
When that embryo had arisen in Puloma, the illustrious Bhrigu, steadfast in his vows, was with his virtuous and faithful wife at the proper time.
अभिषेकाय निष्क्रान्ते भृगौ धर्मभृतां वरे। आश्रमं तस्य रक्षोऽथ पुलोमाऽभ्याजगाम ह
When Bhrigu, foremost among those who uphold dharma, had departed for his consecration, the demon Puloma approached his hermitage.
तं प्रविश्याश्रमं दृष्ट्वा भृगोर्भार्यामनिन्दिताम्। हृच्छयेन समाविष्टो विचेताः समपद्यत
Entering the hermitage and seeing Bhrigu's blameless wife, he was seized by desire and lost his composure.
अभ्यागतं तु तद्रक्षः पुलोमा चारुदर्शना। न्यमन्त्रयत वन्येन फलमूलादिना तदा
Puloma, the demon, having arrived, was then welcomed by the beautiful woman with offerings of wild fruits and roots.
तां तु रक्षस्तदा ब्रह्मन्हृच्छयेनाभिपीडितम्। दृष्ट्वा हृष्टमभूद्राजञ्जिहीर्षुस्तामनिन्दिताम्
O Brahman, seeing her, the demon, overwhelmed by desire, became joyful and wished to take the blameless woman.
जातमित्यब्रवीत्कार्यं जिहीर्षुर्मुदितः शुभाम्। सा हि पूर्वं वृता तेन पुलोम्ना तु शुचिस्मिता
Desiring to take the auspicious woman, he said, 'She was once chosen by me,' for the pure-smiling woman had previously been sought by Puloma.
तस्य तत्किल्बिषं नित्यं हृदि वर्तति भार्गव
O descendant of Bhrigu, this sin constantly dwells in his heart.
इदमन्तरमित्येवं हर्तुं चक्रे मनस्तदा। अथाग्निशरणेऽपश्यज्ज्वलन्तं जातवेदसम्
Thinking, 'Now is my chance,' he resolved to abduct her; then he saw the blazing fire, Jātavedas, as his refuge.
तमपृच्छत्ततो रक्षः पावकं ज्वलितं तदा। शंस मे कस्य भार्येयमग्ने पृच्छे ऋतेन वै
The demon then questioned the blazing fire, saying, 'Tell me truly, O Agni, whose wife is she? I ask you by truth.'
मुखं त्वमसि देवानां वद पावक पृच्छते। मया हीयं वृता पूर्वं भार्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी
'You are the mouth of the gods, O Pāvaka, answer my question. For this woman of excellent complexion was once chosen by me for marriage.'
पश्चादिमां पिता प्रादाद्भृगवेऽनृतकारकः। सेयं यदि वरारोहा भृगोर्भार्या रहोगता
'Later, her father gave her to Bhrigu, who does not act falsely. If this beautiful woman is now Bhrigu's wife, secluded here—'