The Curse on Fire

When Bhṛgu saw his son and his wife, he asked her in anger: Who told that rākṣasa about you, when he wanted to carry you off? He did not know that you were my wife. Tell me, for I want to curse him. Who does not fear my curse? Whose wrong is this?

Agni told the rākṣasa about me, sir, said Pulomā, and he carried me off as I cried out like an osprey. I was set free by the power of this son of yours, and the rākṣasa let me go and fell, burned to ashes.

When he heard this, Bhṛgu, in great anger, cursed Agni: You will eat everything.

Agni was angry too. What is this rash thing you have done, brahmin? he said. I was trying to keep dharma, and I spoke the truth when I was asked. Where is my fault? A witness who knows the truth and speaks falsely when he is asked destroys seven generations of his family before and after him, and one who knows and keeps silent is stained by the same sin. I could curse you too, but I honour brahmins. Hear what you know already. By yoga I divide myself and dwell in many forms, in the fire offerings and the sacrifices and the rites. What is offered into me as the Veda directs satisfies the gods and the ancestors. I am the mouth of the gods and of the ancestors. How can I be their mouth if I eat everything?

Then Agni thought it over and withdrew himself from all the fire offerings and sacrifices and rites of the brahmins. No call of Om or vaṣaṭ, svadhā or svāhā was spoken over the offerings, and all creatures suffered without fire. The seers went in distress to the gods, and the seers and the gods went together to Brahmā and told him of Agni's curse and of the rites that had stopped.

Brahmā called Agni and said to him gently: You are the maker of the worlds and their end. You uphold the three worlds and set the rites going. Act so that the rites are not cut off. Why are you so bewildered, you who are lord and the purifier, dwelling in all beings? You will not eat everything with your whole body; it is your flames that will burn up all things. As everything touched by the sun's rays is pure, so everything burned by your flames will be pure. Make the seer's curse true by your own power, Agni, and take the share of the gods and your own share offered in your mouth.

So be it, said Agni, and went to do as Brahmā said, and the seers began their rites again as before, and the gods rejoiced, and Agni was filled with joy.

Cyavana's son was Pramati, and Pramati's son by Ghṛtācī was Ruru, and Ruru's son by Pramadvarā was Śunaka, and so the line of Bhṛgu went on.