By ‘Bhrigu, upon hearing this account from Puloma, became exceedingly angry. In excess of passion, the Rishi (Bhrigu) cursed Agni, saying, ‘You shall eat of all things.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – PAULOMA (UPA) PARVA – PART 6 – THE CURSE ON AGNI
“Soota said, ‘O Brahmana (Shaunaka), having heard these words from Agni, the Raakshasaa (Puloma) assumed the form of a boar (Varaaha in Sanskrit), and forcefully taking the lady (Bhrigu Maharishi’s wife Puloma) 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 Raakshasaa (Puloma) viewing the infant drop from the mother’s womb, shining like the Sun, let off his grasp of the woman (Puloma), fell down and was instantly converted into ashes. O Brahmana of Bhrigu vamsha (Shaunaka), the beautiful Puloma, distracted with grief took up her offspring Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu and walked away. Pitamaha of the entire universe, (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 Raakshasaa who resolved to carry you away? O you of agreeable smiles, the Raakshasaa could not know you as my wife. Therefore, tell me who it was that told the Raakshasaa so, in order that I may curse him through anger.’
“Puloma replied, ‘O possessor of the six attributes (Gnana, Vairagya, Bala, Kirti, Sri and Aishwarya)! I was identified to the Raakshasaa by Agni. He (the Raakshasaa) 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 Raakshasaa (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 Puloma, 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 Aadi Parva.
Additional Information: Rishi Chyavana is the inventor of an ayurvedic product that was named after himself – Chyavanpraash.
