01.007
Library:Agni is always pure, like Sun, though Omnivore.
Sūta said:
Cursed by Bhrigu, the angry fire then spoke: "What rash act is this, O Brahman, that you have done now?"
In duty, of one striving, truth and of one speaking equally; asked what I said truth, what deviation here my?
A witness who, when asked, knowingly gives false testimony, destroys seven generations of his own family and also others.
And he who knows the truth of duty and meaning but does not speak, he too is tainted by that very sin; there is no doubt here.
I am also capable of cursing you, but the brāhmaṇas are honorable to me. Even knowing, I will clearly tell you, listen to that.
By yoga, having made selves in many ways, I remain in forms, in fire sacrifices, in sacrificial sessions, in activities, and in rituals.
By the procedure prescribed in the Vedas, the oblation which is offered in me satisfies the deities and the ancestors indeed.
The waters, all the divine beings, the waters, and the ancestral beings as well; the new moon and the full moon together with the gods and the ancestors.
Therefore, gods are ancestors and ancestors are also gods. United and separately, they are worshipped on occasions.
The gods and ancestors indeed always offer in me. I am remembered as the mouth of the thirty gods and ancestors.
On the new moon, the ancestors, and on the full moon, the deities, through my mouth, are offered and enjoy the offered oblation. How will I become the mouth of them, being omnivorous?
Having thought, then the fire made destruction of himself in the fire sacrifices and rituals of sacrifices and sessions of the twice-born.
Devoid of Om, Vaṣaṭ, Svadhā, and Svāhā, without fire, all creatures were therefore very unhappy.
Then the distressed sages, having gone to the gods, said: "Due to the destruction of fire and the loss of rituals, the three worlds are confused, O sinless ones. Do here what is to be done so that there may not be a delay."
Then the sages and gods, having approached Brahma, indeed informed of Agni's curse and the destruction of rituals.
O fortunate one, indeed, Agni was cursed by Bhrigu for another reason. How, having become the mouth of the gods, the foremost enjoyer of sacrificial offerings, thus, the consumer of offerings in all worlds, will attain the state of consuming everything.
Having heard those words, the creator of the world, having invoked Agni, said gentle and imperishable words to the creator of beings.
Here, you are the doer of all the worlds and indeed the end. You sustain the three worlds and are the initiator of actions. Thus, O lord of the world, do so that actions are not destroyed as they should be.
Why are you bewildered thus, being the Lord, the fire? You are pure when present in the world and in all beings, indeed.
You will not attain omnivorousness with the whole body. In the cause of flames, those which will burn all, are fire.
As everything touched by the sun's rays is perceived as pure, so everything burnt by your flame will become pure.
O Agni, you, with your great energy, emerged from your own influence. Indeed, by your energy, make that curse of the sage true, O lord. Accept the share of the gods and yourself offered in the mouth.
"So be it," replied the fire to the grandfather. He went to execute the command of the supreme god.
The divine sages, joyful, then went back as they came. The sages, as before, performed all the rituals.
In heaven, the gods rejoiced, and the assemblies of beings and worldly ones too. Agni attained supreme joy, freed from sin.
Thus, this ancient history is born of Agni's curse, the destruction of Puloma, and the origin of Cyavana.
