Critical Edition
सूत उवाच शप्तस्तु भृगुणा वह्निः क्रुद्धो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् किमिदं साहसं ब्रह्मन्कृतवानसि सांप्रतम्
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: Thus being cursed by Bhrigu. Agni said in anger, “What do you mean, Brahmana, by this rashness that you have shown towards me.”
धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य सत्यं च वदतः समम् पृष्टो यदब्रुवं सत्यं व्यभिचारोऽत्र को मम
M. N. Dutt: What transgression is committed by me, who tried to do justice and to speak the truth impartially? Being asked, I told the truth.
पृष्टो हि साक्षी यः साक्ष्यं जानमानोऽन्यथा वदेत् स पूर्वानात्मनः सप्त कुले हन्यात्तथा परान्
M. N. Dutt: A witness, who being asked about a thing which he knows, says something else than what it (really) is, ruins his ancestors and descendants, both to the seventh generations.
यश्च कार्यार्थतत्त्वज्ञो जानमानो न भाषते सोऽपि तेनैव पापेन लिप्यते नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: He, who, knowing a thing full well, does not disclose what he knows when asked is undoubtedly tainted with sin.
शक्तोऽहमपि शप्तुं त्वां मान्यास्तु ब्राह्मणा मम जानतोऽपि च ते व्यक्तं कथयिष्ये निबोध तत्
M. N. Dutt: I can also curse you, but Brahmanas are held in respect by me. Although, O Brahinana, these are known to you, I shall yet speak them to you. Please understand.
योगेन बहुधात्मानं कृत्वा तिष्ठामि मूर्तिषु अग्निहोत्रेषु सत्रेषु क्रियास्वथ मखेषु च
M. N. Dutt: Having multiplied myself by Yoga power, I am present in many forms. (I am present) in the Agnihotra, Satras, rituals and in other sacrifices.
वेदोक्तेन विधानेन मयि यद्धूयते हविः देवताः पितरश्चैव तेन तृप्ता भवन्ति वै
M. N. Dutt: The Devas and Pitris are satisfied from the ghee that is offered in my flame, according to the ordinances of the Vedas.
आपो देवगणाः सर्वे आपः पितृगणास्तथा दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च देवानां पितृभिः सह
M. N. Dutt: The waters are all the Devas. Waters are the Pitris. The Devas have equal rights with the Pitris to perform the sacrifices, called Darsha and Paurnamasa. Darsha and Paurnamasa yajnas are performed for both Devas and Pitris.
देवताः पितरस्तस्मात्पितरश्चापि देवताः एकीभूताश्च पूज्यन्ते पृथक्त्वेन च पर्वसु
M. N. Dutt: Therefore the Devas are the Pitris and the Pitris are the Devas. They are worshipped as identical beings and they are also separately worshipped at Parvas (changes of the moon).
देवताः पितरश्चैव जुह्वते मयि यत्सदा त्रिदशानां पितॄणां च मुखमेवमहं स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: The Devas and the Pitris eat what is offered unto me. I am. therefore, called the mouth of the Devas and the Pitris.
अमावास्यां च पितरः पौर्णमास्यां च देवताः मन्मुखेनैव हूयन्ते भुञ्जते च हुतं हविः सर्वभक्षः कथं तेषां भविष्यामि मुखं त्वहम्
M. N. Dutt: At the new-moon the Pitris and at the fullmoon the Devas are fed through my mouth with the oblations are offered unto me. Being their mouths, how can I be the eater of all things?"
चिन्तयित्वा ततो वह्निश्चक्रे संहारमात्मनः द्विजानामग्निहोत्रेषु यज्ञसत्रक्रियासु च
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: After reflecting for some time, Agni withdrew himself from all places in the world. (he withdrew himself) from the Agnihotra of the twice-born, yajnas, satras and from other ceremonies.
निरोंकारवषट्काराः स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिताः विनाग्निना प्रजाः सर्वास्तत आसन्सुदुःखिताः
M. N. Dutt: Without the fire being deprived of Oms and Vashats, of Svadhas and Svahas, all creatures became very much distressed.
अथर्षयः समुद्विग्ना देवान्गत्वाब्रुवन्वचः अग्निनाशात्क्रियाभ्रंशाद्भ्रान्ता लोकास्त्रयोऽनघाः विधध्वमत्र यत्कार्यं न स्यात्कालात्ययो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the Rishis went to the celestials in great anxiety and addressed them thus, "O immaculate beings, the three worlds have been confounded at the cessation of their sacrifices and ceremonies for the loss of fire. Therefore, be pleased to do the needful. There should not be any loss of time.” Their celestials and the Rishis together having approached the great Brahma,
अथर्षयश्च देवाश्च ब्रह्माणमुपगम्य तु अग्नेरावेदयञ्शापं क्रियासंहारमेव च
AI Translation: Then the sages and the gods approached Brahma, and informed him of the curse of Agni and the cessation of rites.
भृगुणा वै महाभाग शप्तोऽग्निः कारणान्तरे कथं देवमुखो भूत्वा यज्ञभागाग्रभुक्तथा हुतभुक्सर्वलोकेषु सर्वभक्षत्वमेष्यति
M. N. Dutt: How is it possible for Agni, who is the mouth of the celestials, who eats the first part of what is offered in sacrifice, who eats also the sacrificial ghee to become the eater of everything promiscuously?”
श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचस्तेषामग्निमाहूय लोककृत् उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं भूतभावनमव्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: The creator of the world having heard all this, called Agni to his presence. He said, to Agni, who is eternal like him and who is creator of all, in gentle words.
लोकानामिह सर्वेषां त्वं कर्ता चान्त एव च त्वं धारयसि लोकांस्त्रीन्क्रियाणां च प्रवर्तकः स तथा कुरु लोकेश नोच्छिद्येरन्क्रिया यथा
M. N. Dutt: "You are the creater of all creatures, you are their destroyer, you preserve the three words, you are also the promoter of all sacrifices and ceremonies,
कस्मादेवं विमूढस्त्वमीश्वरः सन्हुताशनः त्वं पवित्रं यदा लोके सर्वभूतगतश्च ह
AI Translation: Why are you so confused, O Lord, O Fire? You are the purifier in the world, and you pervade all beings.
न त्वं सर्वशरीरेण सर्वभक्षत्वमेष्यसि उपादानेऽर्चिषो यास्ते सर्वं धक्ष्यन्ति ताः शिखिन्
AI Translation: You will not be able to consume everything with your entire body. O Arciṣ, the flames that are in your fuel will consume everything.
Supplementary Passages:
1.7.20 After 20, N (except K0-3 D2.5) ins.: *221 क्रव्यादा च तनुर्या ते सा सर्वं भक्षयिष्यति
यथा सूर्यांशुभिः स्पृष्टं सर्वं शुचि विभाव्यते तथा त्वदर्चिर्निर्दग्धं सर्वं शुचि भविष्यति
AI Translation: Just as everything is considered pure when touched by the rays of the sun, so everything will become pure when burned by your radiance.
तदग्ने त्वं महत्तेजः स्वप्रभावाद्विनिर्गतम् स्वतेजसैव तं शापं कुरु सत्यमृषेर्विभो देवानां चात्मनो भागं गृहाण त्वं मुखे हुतम्
AI Translation: O Agni, that great radiance which has emerged from your own brilliance, By your own brilliance, O Lord, make that curse true for the sage. Accept the portion of the gods and of yourself, offered into the mouth.
एवमस्त्विति तं वह्निः प्रत्युवाच पितामहम् जगाम शासनं कर्तुं देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: Agni then replied to the Grandfather, "Be it so" and he went away to obey the command of the Parameshthi (Supreme Lord).
देवर्षयश्च मुदितास्ततो जग्मुर्यथागतम् ऋषयश्च यथापूर्वं क्रियाः सर्वाः प्रचक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis and the celestial also in great delight returned to the place whence they came. And the Rishis continued to perform their ceremonies and sacrifices as before.
दिवि देवा मुमुदिरे भूतसंघाश्च लौकिकाः अग्निश्च परमां प्रीतिमवाप हतकल्मषः
M. N. Dutt: The celestials in heaven and all creatures on earth were exceedingly rejoiced; and Agni too rejoiced, because he became free from the curse.
Supplementary Passages:
1.7.25 B3-5 Dn D1.3-5 ins. after 25: B1, after 23ab: K4 marg., after 26ab: D6, after 224* (cf. v.l. 1.8.2): *222 एवं स भगवाञ्शापं लेभेऽग्निर्भृगुतः पुरा
एवमेष पुरावृत्त इतिहासोऽग्निशापजः पुलोमस्य विनाशश्च च्यवनस्य च संभवः
AI Translation: Thus is this history of the past, born from the curse of Agni, The destruction of Pulastya and the birth of Chyavana.