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.
स्वतेजसैव तं शापं कुरु सत्यमृषेर्विभो। देवानां चात्मनो भागं गृहाण त्वं मुखे हुतम्
By your own radiance, fulfill the sage's curse, O mighty one, and accept, in your mouth, the share of the gods and yourself that is offered.
एवमस्त्विति तं वह्निः प्रत्युवाच पितामहम्। जगाम शासनं कर्तुं देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः
Agni replied to the Grandfather, 'So be it,' and went to carry out the command of the supreme Lord.
देवर्षयश्च मुदितास्ततो जग्मुर्यथागतम्। ऋषयश्च यथा पूर्वं क्रियाः सर्वाः प्रचक्रिरे
Then the divine sages, delighted, departed as they had come, and the seers performed all the rites as before.
दिवि देवा मुमुदिरे भूतसङ्घाश्च लौकिकाः। अग्निश्च परमां प्रीतिमवाप हतकल्मषः
The gods in heaven rejoiced, as did the hosts of worldly beings, and Agni, freed from sin, attained supreme satisfaction.
एवं स भगवाञ्छापं लेभेऽग्निर्भृगुतः पुरा। एवमेष पुरा वृत्त हतिहासोऽग्निशापजः। पुलोम्नश्च विनाशोऽयं च्यवनस्य च संभवः
Thus, in ancient times, the blessed Agni received the curse from Bhrigu; so this event occurred long ago—the laughter of Hati, the curse of Agni, the destruction of Puloman, and the birth of Cyavana.
स चापि च्यवनो ब्रह्मन्भार्गवोऽजनयत्सुतम्। सुकन्यायां महात्मानं प्रमतिं दीप्ततेजसम्
And Cyavana, O Brahman, the descendant of Bhrigu, begot a son by Sukanya, the great-souled, radiant Pramati.
प्रमतिस्तु रुरुं नाम घृताच्यां समजीजनत्। रुरुः प्रमद्वरायां तु शुनकं समजीजनम्
Pramati begot a son named Ruru by Ghritachi; and Ruru begot Sunaka by Pramadvara.
शुनकस्तु महासत्वः सर्वभार्गवनन्दनः। जातस्तपसि तीव्रे च स्थितः स्थिरयशास्ततः
Sunaka, of great spirit and joy of all the Bhargavas, was born and stood firm in severe austerity, thus gaining lasting fame.
तस्य ब्रह्मन्रुरोः सर्वं चरितं भूरितेजसः। विस्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु त्वमशेषतः
O Brahman, I will now tell you in detail the entire story of Ruru, full of splendor; listen to it completely.
ऋषिरासीन्महान्पूर्वं तपोविद्यासमन्वितः। स्थूलकेश इति ख्यातः सर्वभूतहिते रतः
There was once a great sage, endowed with austerity and knowledge, known as Sthulakesha, who was devoted to the welfare of all beings.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मेनकायां प्रजज्ञिवान्। गन्धर्वराजो विप्रर्षे विश्वावसुरिति स्मृतः
At that very time, O sage, the king of the Gandharvas, known as Vishvavasu, was born from Menaka.
अप्सरा मेनका तस्य तं गर्भं भृगुनन्दन। उत्ससर्ज यथाकालं स्थूलकेशाश्रमं प्रति
Menaka, the Apsaras, at the proper time, released that child of hers, O descendant of Bhrigu, towards the hermitage of Sthulakesha.
उत्सृज्य चैव तं गर्भं नद्यास्तीरे जगाम सा। अप्सरा मेनका ब्रह्मन्निर्दया निरपत्रपा
And abandoning that embryo on the riverbank, O Brahman, the Apsaras Menaka departed, merciless and shameless.
कन्याममरगर्भाभां ज्वलन्तीमिव च श्रिया। तां ददर्श समुत्सृष्टां नदीतीरे महानृषिः
A great sage saw the girl, shining with beauty like one born of the immortals, lying abandoned on the riverbank.
स्थूलकेशः स तेजस्वी विजने बन्धुवर्जिताम्। स तां दृष्ट्वा तदा कन्यां स्थूलकेशो महाद्विजः
Sthulakesha, that radiant one, saw the girl alone in the wilderness, bereft of kin.
जग्राह च मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपाविष्टः पुपोष च। ववृधे सा वरारोहा तस्याश्रमपदे शुभे
The best of sages, filled with compassion, took her and raised her; she of lovely form grew up in his auspicious hermitage.
जातकाद्याः क्रियाश्चास्या विधिपूर्वं यथाक्रमम्। स्थूलकेशो महाभागश्चकार सुमहानृषिः
Sthulakesha, the great and illustrious sage, performed all the birth and other rites for her, in proper order and according to rule.
प्रमदाभ्यो वरा सा तु सत्त्वरूपगुणान्विता। ततः प्रमद्वरेत्यस्या नाम चक्रे महानृषिः
Endowed with beauty, form, and virtue surpassing other women, the great sage named her Pramadvara.
तामाश्रमपदे तस्य रुरुर्दृष्ट्वा प्रमद्वराम्। बभूव किल धर्मात्मा मदनोपहतस्तदा
Seeing Pramadvara in his hermitage, Ruru, righteous of soul, was overcome by love.
पितरं सखिभिः सोऽथ श्रावयामास भार्गवम्। प्रमतिश्चाभ्ययाचत्तां स्थूलकेशं यशस्विनम्
Then Ruru informed his father, the descendant of Bhrigu, along with his friends, and Pramati approached the renowned Sthulakesha to ask for her.