सूर्यः प्रणम्य ब्रह्माणं मुदायुक्तस्तदाज्ञया
The Sun, joyfully, by the command of Brahmā, bowed to him.
अथ वह्नेरुपाख्यानं सावधानं निशामय
Now, listen attentively to the story of Fire.
त्रैलोक्यं भस्मसात्कर्तुमेकदाऽग्निः समुद्यतः
Once, Fire arose with the intent to reduce the three worlds to ashes.
क्षुभितः कुपितश्चैव भृगोः शापस्य कारणात्
Agitated and enraged, because of the curse of Bhṛgu, he was so.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुराजगामावलीलया
At that moment, Viṣṇu arrived playfully.
मायया शिशुरूपी च तमुवाच जनार्दनः
Assuming the form of a child through his Māyā, Janārdana spoke to him.
शिशुरुवाच त्रैलोक्यं भस्मसात्कर्तुमुद्यतोऽसि निरर्थकम्
The child said: ‘Your attempt to burn the three worlds to ashes is futile.’
त्वमेव भृगुणा शप्तो भृगोश्च दमनं कुरु
‘You yourself were cursed by Bhṛgu; pacify Bhṛgu’s curse.’
विश्वं च ब्रह्मणा सृष्टं तस्य पाता स्वयं हरिः
‘The universe was created by Brahmā, and its protector is Hari himself.’
तत्कथं भस्मसात्कर्तुमीश्वरे शंकरे स्थिते 4.49.
‘So how can you reduce it to ashes while the Lord Śaṃkara remains?’
इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणबटुः शरपत्रं पुरः स्थितम्
Having spoken thus, the brāhmaṇa boy placed a dry leaf before him.
दृष्ट्वा शुष्केन्धनो वह्निर्लेलिहानो भयानकः
Seeing the dry leaf, Fire, terrifying and licking with flames, gazed at it.
न च दग्धं शुष्कपत्रं लोमैकं च शिशोस्तथा
Yet the dry leaf was not burned, nor even a single hair of the child.
कृत्वा वह्नेर्दर्पभङ्गमन्तर्धानं चकार सः
Having broken Fire’s pride, he vanished from sight.
उक्तो वह्नेर्दर्पभङ्गः परं वै श्रोतुमिच्छसि
I have told you of the breaking of Agni’s pride; now you wish to hear more.
श्रीराधिकोवाच कथापीयूषधारांते श्रुत्वा तृप्येत को भुवि
Śrī Rādhikā said: Who on earth could ever be satisfied after hearing the nectar-stream of such a story?
श्रीनारायण उवाच कथां कथितुमारेभे श्रुत्वा रम्यां पुरातनीम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: I began to narrate that delightful and ancient tale, having heard your wish.
इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्ते महापुराणे श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्डे नारायणनारदसंवादे अग्निदर्पमोचनं नामैकोनपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, called ‘The Humbling of Agni’s Pride,’ in the Śrī Brahmavaivarta Mahāpurāṇa, in the section on the birth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, within the dialogue of Nārāyaṇa and Nārada.
दुर्वाससो दर्पभङ्गं कथयामि शृणु प्रिये
Now I shall tell you of the breaking of Durvāsas’s pride; listen, beloved.
एकदा चाम्बरीषश्च कृत्वा च द्वादशीव्रतम्
Once, King Ambarīṣa performed the vow of Dvādaśī.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र चाजगाम मुनिः स्वयम्
Meanwhile, at that very moment, the sage himself arrived there.
मां भोजय महाभागेत्येवं स नृपमुक्तवान्
He said to the king, 'O greatly fortunate one, feed me.'
सकेशं पायसं दृष्ट्वा राजानं शप्तुमुद्यतः
Seeing the king with the rice pudding, he prepared to curse him.
जटामध्यात्समुद्भूतो ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमः
From the midst of his matted hair emerged a being like a blazing tongue of fire.
नृपश्रेष्ठं स राजानं कोपेन हन्तुमुद्यतः
He, enraged, was ready to destroy that foremost of kings.
सस्मार च महाभीतो राजा मम पदाम्बुजम्
The king, greatly terrified, remembered my lotus feet.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चक्रं दुर्निवार्यं सुदर्शनम्
At that very moment, the irresistible Sudarśana discus appeared.
आविर्बभूव सहसा सभामध्ये च घूर्णितम् 4.50.
It suddenly manifested in the midst of the assembly, spinning about.
सशैल सागरां पृथ्वीं काञ्चनीं भूमिमुत्तमाम्
The earth, with its mountains and oceans, and the splendid golden ground—
धावन्तं मुक्तकेशं तं भीतं कातरमातुरम्
—he saw the sage, hair unbound, fleeing in terror, panic-stricken and distressed.