अथेमां वेददृष्टेन कर्मणा विधिपूर्वकम्। भार्यामृषिर्भृगुः प्राप मां पुरस्कृत्य दानव
Then, following the ritual prescribed by the Vedas, Bhṛgu the sage obtained her as his wife, with all due ceremony, O Dānava, with me as witness.
सेयमित्यवगच्छामि नानृतं वक्तुमुत्सहे। नानृतं हि सदा लोके पूज्यते दानवोत्तम
This is the truth as I understand it; I cannot bring myself to speak falsehood, for in this world, O best of Dānavas, truth is always honored.
अग्नेरथ वचः श्रुत्वा तद्रक्षः प्रजहार ताम्। ब्रह्मन्वराहरूपेण मनोमारुतरंहसा
Hearing Agni's words, that Rākṣasa abandoned her, assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa and moving with the speed of thought and wind.
ततः स गर्भो निवसन्कुक्षौ भृगुकुलोद्वह। रोषान्मातुश्च्युतः कुक्षेश्च्यवनस्तेन सोऽभवत्
Then that embryo, dwelling in the womb of the noble Bhṛgu's wife, fell out from his mother's womb in anger, and thus became known as Cyavana.
तं दृष्ट्वा मातुरुदराच्च्युतमादित्यवर्चसम्। तद्रक्षो भस्मसाद्भूतं पपात परिमुच्य ताम्
Seeing him, radiant as the sun, fallen from his mother's womb, that Rākṣasa was reduced to ashes and fell down, releasing her.
सा तमादाय सुश्रोणी ससार भृगुनन्दनम्। च्यवनं भार्गवं पुत्रं पुलोमा दुःखमूर्च्छिता
She, of lovely hips, took up her son Cyavana, descendant of Bhṛgu, and fled, Pulomā overcome with grief.
तां ददर्श स्वयं ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः। रुदतीं बाष्पपूर्णाक्षीं भृगोर्भार्यामनिन्दिताम्
Brahmā himself, the grandsire of all worlds, saw her—Bhṛgu's blameless wife—crying, her eyes filled with tears.
सान्त्वयामास भगवान्वधूं ब्रह्मा पितामहः। अश्रुबिन्दूद्भवा तस्याः प्रावर्तत महानदी
The blessed grandsire Brahmā comforted the bride, and from her tear-drops a great river began to flow.
आवर्तन्ती सृतिं तस्या भृगोः पत्न्यास्तपस्विनः। तस्या मार्गं सृतवतीं दृष्ट्वा तु सरितं तदा
That river, following the path of the ascetic wife of Bhṛgu, began to flow; seeing her course, the river was thus established.
नाम तस्यास्तदा नद्याश्चक्रे लोकपितामहः। वधूसरेति भगवांश्च्यवनस्याश्रमं प्रति
Then the grandsire of the worlds gave that river her name: Vadhūsarā, as she flowed toward Cyavana's hermitage.
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.