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.'
मयानृतं वचोभीत्या कथितं न गुरुद्रुहा । तस्मान्ममोपरि कृपां कुरु धर्मशिरोमणे
'Out of fear I spoke an untruth, not out of malice toward my teacher; therefore, O jewel of righteousness, show me your mercy.'
तदानुग्रहमाधाच्च सर्वभक्षो भवाञ्छुचिः । इत्युक्तवान्हुतभुजं दयार्द्रो मुनितापसः
Then, granting him favor, the sage, softened by compassion, said to Agni, 'Though you consume all, you shall remain pure.'
गर्भाच्च्युतस्य पुत्रस्य जातकर्मादिकं शुचिः । चकार विधिवद्विप्रो दर्भपाणिः सुमंगलः
The virtuous Brahmin, holding darbha grass and auspicious, performed the birth rites and other ceremonies according to rule for the son who had fallen from the womb.
च्यवनाच्च्यवनं प्राहुः पुत्रं सर्वे तपस्विनः । शनैःशनैः स ववृधे शुक्ले प्रतिपदिंदुवत्
Because he had fallen (cyavana), all the ascetics called the son Cyavana; he grew gradually, like the waxing moon on the bright fortnight.
स जगाम तपः कर्तुं रेवां लोकैकपावनीम् । शिष्यैः परिवृतः सर्वैस्तपोबलसमन्वितैः
He went to perform austerities at the Reva, purifier of the worlds, surrounded by all his disciples endowed with the power of penance.
गत्वा तत्र तपस्तेपे वर्षाणामयुतं महान् । अंसयोः किंशुकौ जातौ वल्मीकोपरिशोभितौ
Having gone there, the great one practiced austerities for ten thousand years; on his shoulders grew two kimshuka trees, shining atop the anthill.
मृगा आगत्य तस्यांगे कंडूं विदधुरुत्सुकाः । न किंचित्स हि जानाति दुर्वारतपसावृतः
Eager deer came and scratched his body, but he was unaware of anything, being enveloped in irresistible austerity.
कदाचिन्मनुरुद्युक्तस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रभुः । सकुटुंबो ययौ रेवां महाबलसमावृतः
Once, Manu, intent on pilgrimage, set out for the Reva with his family, accompanied by a great host of the strong.
तत्र स्नात्वा महानद्यां संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । दानानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च प्रादाद्विष्णुप्रतुष्टये
There, after bathing in the great river and satisfying the ancestors and deities, he gave gifts to Brahmins for the pleasure of Vishnu.
तत्कन्या विचरंती सा वनमध्ये इतस्ततः । सखीभिः सहिता रम्या तप्तहाटकभूषणा
His beautiful daughter, adorned with ornaments of refined gold, wandered in the forest there with her companions.
तत्र दृष्ट्वाथ वल्मीकं महातरुसुशोभितम् । निमेषोन्मेषरहितं तेजः किंचिद्ददर्श सा
There, seeing an anthill splendid beneath a great tree, she noticed a certain radiance, unmoving and unwavering.
गत्वा तत्र शलाकाभिरतुदद्रुधिरं स्रवत् । दृष्ट्वा राज्ञांगजा खेदं प्राप्तवत्यतिदुःखिता
Approaching, she struck it with sticks, and blood began to flow; seeing this, the king's daughter was deeply distressed and overcome with sorrow.
न जनन्यै तथा पित्रे शशंसाघेन विप्लुता । स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं सा शुशोच भयातुरा
Overwhelmed by sin, she did not tell her mother or father; she grieved alone, fearful and troubled in her heart.
तदा भूश्चलिता राजन्दिवश्चोल्का पपात ह । धूम्रा दिशो भवन्सर्वाः सूर्यश्च परिवेषितः
Then, O king, the earth trembled, a meteor fell from the sky, all directions became smoky, and the sun was surrounded by a halo.
तदा राज्ञो हया नष्टा हस्तिनो बहवो मृताः । धनं नष्टं रत्नयुतं कलहोभून्मिथस्तदा
At that time, the king's horses were lost, many elephants died, wealth adorned with jewels was lost, and quarrels arose among the people.
तदालोक्य नृपो भीतः किंचिदुद्विग्नमानसः । जनानपृच्छत्केनापि मुनये त्वपराधितम्
Seeing this, the king, frightened and somewhat disturbed in mind, asked the people, 'By whom has an offense been committed against a sage?'
पारंपर्येण तज्ज्ञात्वा स्वपुत्र्याः परिचेष्टितम् । ययौ सुदुःखितस्तत्र समृद्धबलवाहनः
Having learned through intermediaries of his daughter's actions, he went there, deeply distressed, with his powerful army and vehicles.
तं वै तपोनिधिं वीक्ष्य महता तपसायुतम् । स्तुत्वा प्रसादयामास मुनिवर्य दयां कुरु
Seeing that ascetic, endowed with great austerity, he praised him and sought to appease him, saying, 'O best of sages, show mercy.'
तस्मै तुष्टो जगादायं मुनिवर्यो महातपाः । तवात्मजाकृतं सर्वमुत्पाताद्यमवेहि तत्
Pleased with him, that eminent sage of great austerity spoke: 'Know that all these calamities have arisen because of your daughter's deed.'
तव पुत्र्या महाराज चक्षुर्विस्फोटनं कृतम् । बहुसुस्राव रुधिरं जानती त्वामुवाच न
O great king, your daughter caused the bursting of an eye, from which much blood flowed; though she knew you, she did not speak.