Chapter 7
“Sauti said, ‘the god of fire enraged at the curse of Bhrigu, thusaddressed the Rishi, ‘What meaneth this rashness, O Brahmana, that thouhast displayed towards me? What transgression can be imputed to me whowas labouring to do justice and speak the truth impartially?
Being askedI gave the true answer. A witness who when interrogated about a fact ofwhich he hath knowledge, representeth otherwise than it is, ruineth hisancestors and descendants both to the seventh generation. He, too, who,being fully cognisant of all the particulars of an affair, doth notdisclose what he knoweth, when asked, is undoubtedly stained with guilt.I can also curse thee, but Brahmanas are held by me in high respect.Although these are known to thee, O Brahmana, I will yet speak of them,so please attend! Having, by ascetic power, multiplied myself, I ampresent in various forms, in places of the daily homa, at sacrificesextending for years, in places where holy rites are performed (such asmarriage, etc.), and at other sacrifices. With the butter that is pouredupon my flame according to the injunctions prescribed in the Vedas, theDevas and the Pitris are appeased. The Devas are the waters; the Pitrisare also the waters. The Devas have with the Pitris an equal right to thesacrifices called Darshas and Purnamasas. The Devas therefore are thePitris and the Pitris, the Devas. They are identical beings, worshippedtogether and also separately at the changes of the moon. The Devas andthe Pitris eat what is poured upon me. I am therefore called the mouth ofthe Devas and the Pitris. At the new moon the Pitris, and at the fullmoon the Devas, are fed through my mouth, eating of the clarified butterthat is poured on me. Being, as I am, their mouth, how am I to be aneater of all things (clean and unclean)?
“Then Agni, alter reflecting for a while, withdrew himself from allplaces; from places of the daily homa of the Brahmanas, from alllong-extending sacrifices, from places of holy rites, and from otherceremonies. Without their Oms and Vashats, and deprived of their Swadhasand Swahas (sacrificial mantras during offerings), the whole body ofcreatures became much distressed at the loss of their (sacrificial) fire.The Rishis in great anxiety went to the gods and addressed them thus, ‘Yeimmaculate beings! The three regions of the universe are confounded atthe cessation of their sacrifices and ceremonies in consequence of theloss of fire! Ordain what is to be done in tins matter, so that there maybe no loss of time.’ Then the Rishis and the gods went together to thepresence of Brahma. And they represented to him all about the curse onAgni and the consequent interruption of all ceremonies. And they said, ‘Othou greatly fortunate! Once Agni hath been cursed by Bhrigu for somereason. Indeed, being the mouth of the gods and also the first who eatethof what is offered in sacrifices, the eater also of the sacrificialbutter, how will Agni be reduced to the condition of one who eateth ofall things promiscuously?’ And the creator of the universe hearing thesewords of theirs summoned Agni to his presence. And Brahma addressed Agni,the creator of all and eternal as himself, in these gentle words, ‘Thouart the creator of the worlds and thou art their destroyer! Thoupreserves! the three worlds and thou art the promoter of all sacrificesand ceremonies! Therefore behave thyself so that ceremonies be notinterrupted. And, O thou eater of the sacrificial butter, why dost thouact so foolishly, being, as thou art, the Lord of all? Thou alone artalways pure in the universe and thou art its stay! Thou shall not, withall thy body, be reduced to the state of one who eateth of all thingspromiscuously. O thou of flames, the flame that is in thy viler partsshall alone eat of all things alike. The body of thine which eateth offlesh (being in the stomach of all carnivorous animals) shall also eat ofall things promiscuously. And as every thing touched by the sun’s raysbecometh pure, so shall everything be pure that shall be burnt by thyflames. Thou art, O fire, the supreme energy born of thy own power. Then,O Lord, by that power of thine make the Rishi’s curse come true. Continueto ‘receive thy own portion and that of the gods, offered at thy mouth.’
‘Sauti continued, ‘Then Agni replied to the Grandfather, ‘So be it.’ Andhe then went away to obey the command of the supreme Lord. The gods andthe Rishis also returned in delight to the place whence they had come.And the Rishis began to perform as before their ceremonies andsacrifices. And the gods in heaven and all creatures of the worldrejoiced exceedingly. And Agni too rejoiced in that he was free from theprospect of sin.
“Thus, O possessor of the six attributes, had Agni been cursed in thedays of yore by Bhrigu. And such is the ancient history connected withthe destruction of the Rakshasa, Pauloma and the birth of Chyavana.'”
Thus endeth the seventh section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva ofthe blessed Mahabharata.
