Thursday, February 16, 2017

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - AADI PARVA - PAULOMA (UPA) PARVA - PART 6


"Soota said, 'O Brahmana (Saunaka), having heard these words from Agni, the Rakshasa (Pauloma) assumed the form of a boar (Varaha), and forcefully taking the lady (Bhrigu Maharishi's wife Pauloma) carried her away with the speed of the wind -- even of thought. Then the child of Bhrigu lying in her body angered at such violence, dropped from his mother's womb, for which he obtained the name of Chyavana.

"The Rakshasa (Pauloma) viewing the infant drop from the mother's womb, shining like the Sun, let off his grasp of the woman (Pauloma), fell down and was instantly converted into ashes. O Brahmana of the Bhrigu kula (Saunaka), the beautiful Pauloma, distracted with grief took up her offspring Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu and walked away. Pitamaha (Lord) Brahma Himself saw her, the faultless wife of his son (Bhrigu Maharishi), weeping. The Pitamaha (Lord Brahma) comforted her who was attached to her son. The drops of tears which rolled down her eyes formed a great river. That river began to follow the foot-steps of the wife of Maharishi Bhrigu. The Pitamaha of the worlds (Lord Brahma) seeing that river follow the path of his son's wife gave it a name himself, and he called it Vadhusara (present-day Dohin nadi in Haryana near Doshi hill). It passes by the ashrama of Chyavana. In this manner was born Chyavana of great Tapas power, the son of Bhrigu.

"(Maharishi) Bhrigu saw his child Chyavana and its beautiful mother. The Rishi in anger asked her, 'By whom was you made known to that Rakshasa who resolved to carry you away? O you of agreeable smiles, the Rakshasa could not know you as my wife. Therefore tell me who it was that told the Rakshasa so, in order that I may curse him through anger.' 

"Pauloma replied, 'O possessor of the six attributes (Jnana, Vairagya, Bala, Kirti, Sri and Aishwarya)! I was identified to the Rakshasa by Agni. He (the Rakshasa) took me away, who cried like the Kurari (female osprey). It was only by the burning brightness of this your son (Chyavana) that I was rescued, for the Rakshasa (seeing this child Chyavana) let me go and himself falling to the ground was turned into ashes.'

"Soota continued, 'Bhrigu, upon hearing this account from Pauloma, became exceedingly angry. In excess of passion, the Rishi (Bhrigu) cursed Agni, saying, 'You shall eat of all things.'"

So ends the sixth section called "the curse on Agni" in the Adi Parva.


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