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—'
तथा सत्यं समाख्याहि जिहीर्षाम्याश्रमादिमाम्। स मन्युस्तत्र हृदयं प्रदहन्निव तिष्ठति
'Then declare the truth, for I wish to take her from the hermitage. Anger burns my heart here, as if consuming it.'
मत्पूर्वभार्यां यदिमां भृगुराप सुमध्यमाम्। `असंमतमिदं मेऽद्य हरिष्याम्याश्रमादिमाम्
'If Bhrigu has taken my former wife, the fair-waisted one, without my consent, today I will carry her away from the hermitage.'
एवं रक्षस्तमामन्त्र्य ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्। शङ्कमानं भृगोर्भार्यां पुनःपुनरपृच्छत
Thus, the demon repeatedly questioned the blazing Jātavedas, doubting whether she was Bhrigu's wife.
त्वमग्ने सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरसि नित्यदा। साक्षिवत्पुण्यपापेषु सत्यं ब्रूहि कवे वचः
'O Agni, you always dwell within all beings; as a witness to virtue and vice, speak the truth, O wise one.'
मत्पूर्वभार्याऽपहृता भृगुणाऽनृतकारिणा। सेयं यदि तथा मे त्वं सत्यमाख्यातुमर्हसि
'My former wife was taken by Bhrigu, who acted falsely. If this is so, you must declare the truth to me.'
श्रुत्वा त्वत्तो भृगोर्भार्यां हरिष्याम्याश्रमादिमाम्। जातवेदः पश्यतस्ते वद सत्यां गिरं मम
'Having heard from you that she is Bhrigu's wife, I will take her from the hermitage. O Jātavedas, speak a truthful word to me, as you see fit.'
तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सप्तार्चिर्दुःखितोऽभवत्। `सत्यं वदामि यदि मे शापः स्याद्ब्रह्मवित्तमात्
Hearing these words, the seven-flamed Agni became distressed: 'If I speak the truth, I may be cursed by the knower of Brahman.'
असत्यं चेदहं ब्रूयां पतिष्ये नरकान्ध्रुवम्।' भीतोऽनृताच्च शापाच्च भृगोरित्यब्रवीच्छनैः
'If I speak falsely, I will surely fall into hell.' Fearing both falsehood and curse, he quietly replied, 'She is Bhrigu's.'
त्वया वृता पुलोमेयं पूर्वं दानवनन्दन। किं त्वियं विधिना पूर्वं मन्त्रवन्न वृता त्वया
You had previously chosen Puloma's daughter, O child of the Dānavas; but was she chosen by you before, according to the prescribed rite and with proper mantras?
पित्रा तु भृगवे दत्ता पुलोमेयं यशस्विनी। ददाति न पिता तुभ्यं वरलोभान्महायशाः
But Puloma's illustrious daughter was given by her father to Bhṛgu; her father, renowned and noble, did not give her to you, moved by desire for a better match.