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Library:Brigu lineage narrated.
Śaunaka said.
"Dear, your father had studied the entire ancient text formerly. Have you also studied all that, O Lomaharshana?"
In the Puranas, indeed, divine stories and ancient lineages of the wise are told. Those were formerly heard by us before, from your father.
There, I wish to first hear the lineage, O Bhārgava. Tell this story, indeed auspicious in hearing, of yours.
Sūta said.
What was studied properly in the past by the best of the twice-born, the great souls, and was also told by Vaiśampāyana and other sages in the past.
Hear what was studied by my father and then by me, which is with the gods, with Indra, and with the groups of Agni and Maruts.
Worshipped is the excellent lineage of the Bhṛgus, O son of Bhṛgu.
O Brahman, I narrate to you this lineage of Bhṛgu, O great sage, combined with stories and ancient traditions.
The beloved son of Bhrigu was named Cyavana, a descendant of the Bhrigu lineage. Cyavana's heir was also named Pramati, who was righteous.
The son of Pramati was also born in Ghritachi, indeed named Ruru.
Śunaka, the son of Ruru, who was versed in the Vedas, was born in Pramadvara, a righteous soul, from your great-grandfather.
An ascetic and glorious one, learned and the best knower of Brahman, righteous, truthful, disciplined, and self-controlled.
Śaunaka said.
O son of a charioteer, as the falling of the great soul Bhārgava is well-known, tell me that as I am asking.
Sūta said.
The beloved wife of Bhrigu, known as Puloma, bore an embryo in her, which was born of the seed of Bhrigu.
O carrier of Bhṛgu, then, in that nurtured womb of Pulomā, at the time in the virtuous, lawful wife of the glorious.
When Bhrigu, the best of the upholders of dharma, had departed for the consecration, then the demon Puloma indeed came to his hermitage.
Having entered the hermitage and seen the blameless wife of Bhrigu, he became unconscious, overcome with heart's desire.
But that demon Pulomā, beautiful in appearance, invited (him) then with forest fruits and roots.
But then, O Brahman, the demon, afflicted with desire, having seen her, became pleased there, desiring to take away the blameless her.
Then, in the refuge of fire, he saw the blazing Agni, the fire-god. Then the demon asked the blazing fire.
Tell me, whose wife is this, O Agni, asked truly indeed. You are truthful, speak the truth to me, O purifier, to the one asking.
"Indeed, this beautiful woman was previously chosen by me for the purpose of a wife; afterwards, the father gave this to Bhṛgu, the deceiver."
"If this beautifully-thighed woman is indeed Bhṛgu's wife who has gone to a secluded place, then declare the truth, for I wish to leave this hermitage."
"Indeed, my heart is burning today as if with anger, because Bhrigu has obtained this slender-waisted former wife of mine."
Thus having addressed the blazing fire, doubting, he again and again asked the wife of Bhrigu.
You, O Agni, move inside all beings always; like a witness in virtues and sins, speak the truth, O poet, words.
"My former wife was abducted by Bhrigu, the deceiver. If this is so, you ought to tell me the truth."
Having heard from you, I will take away Bhṛgu's wife from the hermitage. O Agni, seeing this, speak my true words.
Hearing his words, Saptarchi was greatly distressed. Afraid of falsehood and the curse of Bhrigu, he thus spoke slowly.
