Shaunaka said: -
1. Your father read the whole of the Puranas in the days of yore. O Son of Lomharshana, have you also made them your study?
2. There are in the Puranas interesting stories and the history of the first generations of the wise mein We have heard them all recited by your father.
3. I am desirous of hearing the history of the Brigu race. Tell us that history. We art all attention to listen to you.
Souti said: -
4. That which was formerly studied by the noble Brahmanas, which was studied and narrated by Vaishampayana.
5-6. Which was also studied by my father! has been acquired by me. Hear with all attention, O descendant of the Brigu race, the history of your race, respected by Indra and all the celestials, all the Rishis and the Marutas. In this great race the great and blessed Rishi Brigu was born.
7-8. I shall properly relate, O great Rishi, the history of this race, as it is in the Puranas. We are told that great Brigu was begotten by self-existing Brahma from the fire at Varuna’s sacrifice. Brigu had a beloved son, named Chyavana.
9. Chyavana had a virtuous son, named Pramati. He had a son, named Ruru by Ghritachi.
10. Raru had a son by his wife Pramadvara. O Shaunaka, he was your grandfather; he was very virtuous and greatly learned in the Vedas.
11. He was devoted to asceticism, had great repute, was learned in the Sruti, truthful, virtuous, well-regulated in his meals and was the. most eminent amongst the leamed in the Vedas.
Shaunaka said: -
12. O Son of Suta, why was the illustrious son of Brjgu named Chyavana? I ask you, tell me an about it.
13. Souti replied: -Brigu had a very beloved wife, (named Puloma) who became quick with child by him.
14-15. When the virtuous and chaste Puloma was in that condition, one day the greatly famous and virtuous Brigu, leaving her at home, went to perform his ablutions. And it was then that a Raksha, named Paulama, came to the Rishi’s hermitage.
16. He, having entered into the hermitage, saw the irreproachable wife of Brigu. Seeing her he was filled with lust and lost his reason.
17. Seeing that a guest had come, beautiful Puloma, entertained him with roots and fruits of the wood.
18. O Rishi, the Raksha, having seen her, burnt in lust. He was very much delighted, and he determined to carry away the irreproachable lady.
19. He said, “My desire is fulfiled. So saying he seized that beautiful lady, and carried her away. And in fact that lady of captivating smiles, was formerly betrothed to the Raksha by her father.
20. But he afterwards gave her away to the Rishi Brigu in due rites. Since then, 0 descendant of the Brigu race, this wound rankled deep in the heart of the Raksha.
21. He thought this was a very good opportunity to carry the lady away. Then he entered into the room of the holy fire where it was brightly burning.
22. The Raksha asked the burning fire, “O Agni! tell me whose rightful wife this lady is.
23. You, O Agni, is the mouth of celestials; tell me, I ask you. This beautiful lady was formerly betrothed to me;
24. But her father subsequently gave her to the vile Brigu. Tell me truly, if she can be truly called the wife of Brigu.
25. As I have found her alone in the hermitage, I am determined to carry her away by force. My heart burns with rage when I think that Brigu has obtained this beautiful woman who was betrothed to me.
26. Thus did the Raksha ask the flaming fire again and again, whether the lady was Brigu’s wife.
27. “O Agni, you always dwell in every creature as the witness of their piety and impiety. Answer my question truthfully.
28. Brigu has appropriated her who was chosen by me as my wife. Tell me truly therefore, whether she is not truly my wife by first choice.
29. Hearing from you whether she is Brigu’s wife or not, I shall carry her away from the hermitage even before your presence. Therefore, answer me truthfully.”
Souti said: -
30. Having heard his words, the seven flamed Deity felt himself very much in difficulty. He was afraid to tell an untruth and was equally afraid of Brigu’s curse. He at last slowly said.
Agni said: -
31. “O Raksha, it is true that this Puloma was first betrothed to you, but she was not taken by you with (the necessary) holy rites and invocations.
32. And her father gave this famous Puloma to Brigu in gift. He did not give her to you.
33. O Raksha, she was duly taken by Brigu as his wife in my presence with all the Vedic rites.
34. This is she, I cannot tell a falsehood. O best of Rakshas, falsehood is never respected in this world.
Thus ends the fifth chapter, Paulama in the Adi Parva.