स एवं च्यवनो जज्ञे भृगोः पुत्रः प्रतापवान्। तं ददर्श पिता तत्र च्यवनं तां च भामिनीम्। स पुलोमां ततो भार्यां पप्रच्छ कुपितो भृगुः
Thus Cyavana, the mighty son of Bhṛgu, was born; there his father saw Cyavana and the radiant lady, and Bhṛgu, angered, questioned his wife Pulomā.
केनासि रक्षसे तस्मै कथिता त्वं जिहीर्षवे। न हि त्वा वेद तद्रक्षो मद्भार्यां चारुहासिनीम्
By whom were you revealed to that Rākṣasa, who wished to seize you? For that Rākṣasa did not know you were my wife, O lovely-smiling one.
तत्त्वमाख्याहि तं ह्यद्य शप्तुमिच्छाम्यहं रुषा। बिभेति को न शापान्मे कस्य चायं व्यतिक्रमः
Tell me the truth, for today I wish to curse him in my wrath; who does not fear my curses, and whose is this transgression?
अग्निना भगवंस्तस्मै रक्षसेऽहं निवेदिता। ततो मामनयद्रक्षः क्रोशन्तीं कुररीमिव
O blessed one, I was revealed to that Rākṣasa by Agni; then that Rākṣasa carried me off as I cried out like a curlew.
साऽहं तव सुतस्यास्य तेजसा परिमोक्षिता। भस्मीभूतं च तद्रक्षो मामुत्सृज्य पपात वै
I was freed by the radiance of your son; that Rākṣasa, reduced to ashes, released me and fell.
इति श्रुत्वा पुलोमाया भृगुः परममन्युमान्। शशापाग्निमतिक्रुद्धः सर्वभक्षो भविष्यसि
Hearing Pulomā's words, Bhṛgu, filled with intense anger, cursed Agni in his fury: 'You shall become the devourer of all.'
शप्तस्तु भृगुणा वह्निः क्रुद्धो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्। किमिदं साहसं ब्रह्मन्कृतवानसि मां प्रति
Having been cursed by Bhrigu, Agni, angered, then spoke these words: 'O Brahman, what is this rash act you have committed against me?'
धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य सत्यं च वदतः समम्। पृष्टो यदब्रवं सत्यं व्यभिचारोऽत्र को मम
I strive in righteousness and always speak the truth; when questioned, I replied truthfully—what fault is there in me here?
पृष्टो हिसाक्षीयः साक्ष्यं जानानोऽप्यन्यथा वदेत्। स पूर्वानात्मनः सप्त कुले हन्यात्तथाऽपरान्
If a witness, knowing the truth, speaks otherwise when questioned, he destroys seven generations of his ancestors and descendants.
यश्च कार्यार्थतत्त्वज्ञो जानानोऽपि न भाषते। सोऽपि तेनैव पापेन लिप्यते नात्र संशयः
And he who knows the truth of the matter but does not speak for the sake of justice, is also tainted by the same sin—there is no doubt about this.
शक्तोऽहमपि शप्तुं त्वां मान्यास्तु ब्राह्मणा मम। जानतोऽपि च ते ब्रह्मन्कथयिष्ये निबोध तत्
I too am capable of cursing you, but Brahmins are honored by me; yet, O Brahman, though I know, I will tell you—listen to this.
योगेन बहुधाऽऽत्मानं कृत्वा तिष्ठामि मूर्तिषु। अग्निहोत्रेषु सत्रेषु क्रियासु च मखेषु च
Through yoga, I manifest myself in many forms; I abide in the rituals of agnihotra, in sacrifices, and in ceremonies and rites.
वेदोक्तेन विधानेन मयि यद्धूयते हविः। देवताः पितरश्चैव तेन तृप्ता भवन्ति वै
By the procedure prescribed in the Vedas, whatever offering is poured into me, the gods and ancestors are truly satisfied by it.
आपो देवगणाः सर्वे आपः पितृगणास्तथा। दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च देवानां पितृभिः सह
Waters are the hosts of gods, and waters are also the hosts of ancestors; both the Darsha and Purnamasa rites are performed for gods together with ancestors.
देवताः पितरस्तस्मात्पितरश्चापि देवताः। एकीभूताश्च दृश्यन्ते पृथक्त्वेन च पर्वसु
Thus, gods and ancestors, and ancestors as well as gods, are seen united and also separately at the sacred times.
देवताः पितरश्चैव भुञ्जते मयि यद्भुतम्। देवतानां पितॄणां च मुखमेतदहं स्मृतम्
Gods and ancestors both partake of whatever is offered into me; I am regarded as the mouth of both gods and ancestors.
अमावास्यां हि पितरः पौर्णमास्यां हि देवताः। मन्मुखेनैव हूयन्ते भुञ्जते च हुतं हविः
On the new moon, the ancestors, and on the full moon, the gods, are offered oblations through my mouth and consume the offerings.
सर्वभक्षः कथं त्वेषां भविष्यामि मुखं त्वहम्
How then shall I become their mouth, being all-consuming?
द्विजानामग्निहोत्रेषु यज्ञसत्रक्रियासु च। निरोंकारवषट्काराः स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिताः
In the agnihotra rituals and sacrificial rites of the twice-born, without the utterance of 'Om' and 'Vashat', and lacking 'Svaha' and 'Swadha',
विनाऽग्निना प्रजाः सर्वास्तत आसन्सुदुःखिताः। अथर्षयः समुद्विग्ना देवान् गत्वाब्रुवन्वचः
Without fire, all creatures became greatly distressed; then the sages, troubled, went to the gods and spoke these words.
अग्निनाशात्क्रियाभ्रांशाद्भ्रान्ता लोकास्त्रयोऽनघाः। विधध्वमत्र यत्कार्यं न स्यात्कालात्ययो यथा
Due to the absence of Agni and the disruption of rites, the three worlds became confused; arrange here what must be done so that time's order is not broken.
अथर्षयश्च देवाश्च ब्रह्माणमुपगम्य तु। अग्नेरावेदयञ्शापं क्रियासंहारमेव च
Then the sages and gods approached Brahma and informed him of Agni's curse and the cessation of rituals.
भृगुणा वै महाभाग शप्तोऽग्निः कारणान्तरे। कथं देवमुखो भूत्वा यज्ञभागाग्रभुक् तथा
Agni, O illustrious one, was cursed by Bhrigu for another reason; how can he, being the mouth of the gods, again partake of the foremost share of sacrifices?
श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचस्तेषामग्निमाहूय विश्वकृत्
Hearing their words, the creator of all summoned Agni.
उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं भूतभावनमव्ययम्। लोकानामिह सर्वेषां त्वं कर्ता चान्त एव च
He spoke gentle words, eternal and creative of beings: 'You are the maker and the end of all these worlds here.'
त्वं धारयसि लोकांस्त्रीन्क्रियाणां च प्रवर्तकः। स तथा कुरु लोकेश नोच्छिद्येरन्यथा क्रियाः
You uphold the three worlds and are the initiator of rites; therefore, O Lord of the worlds, act thus, or else the rites would be interrupted.
कस्मादेवं विमूढस्त्वमीश्वरः सन् हुताशेन। त्वं पवित्रं सदा लोके सर्वभूतगतिश्च ह
Why are you thus confused, though you are the Lord, O Fire? You are always pure in the world and indeed the refuge of all beings.
न त्वं सर्वशरीरेण सर्वभक्षत्वमेष्यसि। अपाने ह्यर्चिषो यास्ते सर्वं भक्ष्यन्ति ताः शिखिन्
You will not, with your whole body, become the devourer of all; for the flames you emit in the lower breath consume everything, O flaming one.
क्रव्यादा च तनुर्या ते सा सर्वं भक्षयिष्यति। यथा सूर्यांशुभिः स्पृष्टं सर्वं शुचि विभाव्यते
Your form as the devourer of flesh will consume all, just as everything touched by the rays of the sun is seen as pure.
तथा त्वदर्चिर्निर्दग्धं सर्वं शुचि भविष्यति। त्वमग्ने परमं तेजः स्वप्रभावाद्विनिर्गतम्
In the same way, all that is burned by your flame will become pure; you, O Agni, are the supreme radiance, arisen from your own power.