पयोष्णीतीरमासाद्य जगाम स हयोत्तमः । पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः सर्वे योधा वै हयरक्षिणः
Reaching the bank of the Payoshni river, that best of horses went on, and all the warriors and horse-guards followed behind.
आश्रमान्विविधान्पश्यन्नृषीणां सुतपोभृताम् । तत्रतत्र विशृण्वानो रघुनाथगुणोदयम्
Beholding the various hermitages of the great ascetics, he heard everywhere the praises of Raghunātha's virtues.
एष धीमान्हरिर्याति हरिणा परिरक्षितः । हरिभिर्हरिभक्तैश्च हरिवर्यानुगैर्मुहुः
This wise Hari proceeds, protected by Hari, and always accompanied by monkeys, devotees of Hari, and the foremost followers of Hari.
इति शृण्वञ्छुभा वाचो मुनीनां परितः प्रभुः । तुतोष भक्त्युत्कलितचित्तवृत्तिभृतां महान्
Thus, as the great lord listened all around to the auspicious words of the sages, his heart was gladdened by those whose minds overflowed with devotion.
ददर्श चाश्रमं शुद्धं जनजंतुसमाकुलम् । वेदध्वनिहताशेषा मंगलं शृण्वतां नृणाम्
He saw a pure hermitage, teeming with people and creatures, where the sound of the Vedas dispelled all inauspiciousness for those who listened.
अग्निहोत्रहविर्धूम पवित्रितनभोखिलम् । मुनिवर्यकृतानेक यागयूपसुशोभितम्
The entire sky was purified by the smoke of sacrificial offerings, and it was adorned with many sacrificial posts set up by the best of sages.
यत्र गावस्तु हरिणा पाल्यंते पालनोचिताः । मूषका न खनंत्यस्मिन्बिडालस्य भयाद्बिलम्
There, cows are protected by the monkey, as is proper; mice do not dig their holes here, out of fear of the cat.
मयूरैर्नकुलैः सार्द्धं क्रीडंति फणिनोनिशम् । गजैः सिंहैर्नित्यमत्र स्थीयते मित्रतां गतैः
Peacocks play together with mongooses, and snakes play with them night and day; here, elephants and lions always dwell in friendship.
एणास्तत्रत्य नीवारभक्षणेषु कृतादराः । न भयं कुर्वते कालाद्रक्षिता मुनिवृंदकैः
The antelopes there, intent on eating wild rice, feel no fear from time, being protected by the bands of sages.
गावः कुंभसमोधस्का नंदिनी समविग्रहाः । कुर्वंति चरणोत्थेन रजसेलां पवित्रिताम्
The cows, with udders full as pots and bodies like Nandini, purify the earth with the dust raised by their feet.
मुनिवर्याः समित्पाणि पद्मैर्धर्मक्रियोचिताम् । दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छसुमतिं सर्वज्ञं राम मंत्रिणम्
The foremost sages, holding sacrificial fuel in their hands and adorned with lotuses, observed the rites of dharma; seeing this, Sumati, the all-knowing minister of Rama, was questioned.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। सुमते कस्य संस्थानं मुनेर्भाति पुरोगतम् । निर्वैरिजंतु संसेव्यं मुनिवृंदसमाकुलम्
Shatrughna said: Sumati, whose hermitage is that which shines ahead, filled with sages, free from enmity, and attended by many beings?
श्रोष्यामि मुनिवार्तां च विदधामि पवित्रताम् । निजं वपुस्तदीयाभिर्वार्ताभिर्वर्णनादिभिः
I wish to hear the account of the sage and to perform acts of purification; I will recount my own story through their narratives and descriptions.
इति श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । कथयामास सचिवो रघुनाथस्य धीमतः
Hearing these great words of the noble Shatrughna, the wise minister of Raghunatha began to speak.
सुमतिरुवाच। च्यवनस्याश्रमं विद्धि महातापसशोभितम् । निर्वैरिजंतुसंकीर्णं मुनिपत्नीभिरावृतम्
Sumati said: Know this as the hermitage of Cyavana, radiant with the great ascetic, crowded with peaceful beings and surrounded by the wives of sages.
योऽसौ महामुनिः स्वर्गवैद्ययोर्भागमादधात् । स्वायंभुवमहायज्ञे शक्रमानविभेदनः
He is that great sage who apportioned the share of heaven and medicine in the great sacrifice of Svayambhu, breaking the pride of Indra and the gods.
महामुनेः प्रभावोऽयं न केनापि समाप्यते । तपोबलसमृद्धस्य वेदमूर्तिधरस्य ह
The power of that great sage cannot be matched by anyone, for he is filled with the strength of asceticism and bears the form of the Veda.
श्रुत्वा रामानुजो वार्तां च्यवनस्य महामुनेः । सर्वं पप्रच्छ सुमतिं शक्रमानादिभंजनम्
Hearing the account of the great sage Cyavana, Rama’s younger brother asked Sumati everything about the one who broke the pride of Indra and the gods.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कदासौ दस्रयोर्भागं चकार सुरपंक्तिषु । किं कृतं देवराजेन स्वायंभुव महामखे
Shatrughna said: When did he give the share to the Ashvins among the gods, and what did the king of the gods do at the great sacrifice of Svayambhu?
सुमतिरुवाच। ब्रह्मवंशेऽतिविख्यातो मुनिर्भृगुरिति श्रुतः । कदाचिद्गतवान्सायं समिदाहरणं प्रति
Sumati said: In the lineage of Brahma, a sage renowned as Bhrigu is heard of; once, in the evening, he went to collect sacrificial fuel.
तदा मखविनाशाय दमनो राक्षसो बली । आगत्योच्चैर्जगादेदं महाभयकरं वचः
Then, for the destruction of the sacrifice, a powerful demon named Damana arrived and loudly spoke these terrifying words.
कुत्रास्ति मुनिबंधुः स कुत्र तन्महिलानघा । पुनः पुनरुवाचेदं वचो रोषसमाकुलः
Where is the sage’s kinsman? Where is his blameless wife? Again and again, he spoke these words, filled with anger.
तदाहुतवहो ज्ञात्वा राक्षसाद्भयमागतम् । दर्शयामास तज्जायामंतर्वत्नीमनिंदिताम्
Then Agni, knowing that fear had come from the demon, revealed to him the irreproachable wife of the sage, who was within the inner quarters.
जहार राक्षसस्तां तु रुदंतीं कुररीमिव । भृगो रक्षपते रक्ष रक्ष नाथ तपोनिधे
The demon seized her as she wept, like a hawk seizing a female curlew, crying, 'O Bhrigu, lord of ascetics, protect, protect, O treasure of penance!'
एवं वदंतीमार्तां तां गृहीत्वा निरगाद्बहिः । दुष्टो वाक्यप्रहारेण बोधयन्स भृगोः सतीम्
Seizing her as she cried out in distress, the wicked one went out, assailing the virtuous wife of Bhrigu with harsh words.
ततो महाभयत्रस्तो गर्भश्चोदरमध्यतः । पपात प्रज्वलन्नेत्रो वैश्वानर इवांगजः
Then, terrified by great fear, a child fell from her womb, his eyes blazing, like fire incarnate.
तेनोक्तं मा व्रजाशु त्वं भस्मी भव सुदुर्मते । न हि साध्वी परामर्शं कृत्वा श्रेयोऽधियास्यसि
He said to him, 'Do not go quickly; become ashes, O evil-minded one! For having touched a virtuous woman, you will not attain any good.'
इत्युक्तः स पपाताशु भस्मीभूतकलेवरः । माता तदार्भकं नीत्वा जगामाश्रममुन्मनाः
Thus addressed, he immediately fell, his body reduced to ashes; then the mother, taking her child, returned to the hermitage, her mind disturbed.
भृगुर्वह्निकृतं सर्वं ज्ञात्वा कोपसमाकुलः । शशाप सर्वभक्षस्त्वं भव दुष्टारिसूचक
Bhrigu, having learned all that had been done by Agni, became filled with anger and cursed him, saying, 'You shall become one who consumes everything, a sign of hostility toward the wicked.'
तदा शप्तोऽतिदुःखार्तो जग्राहांघ्र्याशुशुक्षणिः । कुरु मेऽनुग्रहं स्वामिन्कृपार्णव महामते
Then, afflicted by the curse and overwhelmed with great sorrow, Agni took hold of Bhrigu's feet and pleaded, 'Show me your favor, O master, ocean of compassion, great-minded one.'