The curse struck Agni like a thunderbolt.
For a mont, the Fire God blazed with anger. Then he turned toward the sage Bhrigu and spoke.
“O Brahmin, what rashness is this?
Why have you cursed when I have done no wrong?
I have always striven to follow the path of righteousness and to speak the truth without favor or prejudice. I was questioned, and I answered truthfully. Wherein lies my cri?”
The flas around him crackled as he continued.
“A witness who knows the truth but gives false testimony condemns both his ancestors and his descendants for seven generations.
Likewise, a person who knows the truth and deliberately remains silent shares the sa guilt.
How, then, could I have acted otherwise?
I could curse you in return, for I possess that power. Yet I hold the Brahmins in the highest respect and will not do so.
Instead, listen carefully, for although you already know these truths, I shall explain them once more.”
Agni's voice grew solemn.
“Through my divine power, I exist in countless forms throughout the universe.
I dwell in every sacred fire.
I am present in the Agnihotras, in great sacrificial sessions, and in every ritual ordained by the Vedas.
Whenever offerings are poured into the sacred flas according to proper rites, it is through that they reach their destination.
The gods are nourished through .
The ancestors are nourished through .
The offerings cast into the fire beco their food.
Therefore, I am known as the mouth of the gods and the ancestors.”
The Fire God paused before continuing.
“On the night of the new moon, the ancestors receive their offerings through .
On the night of the full moon, the gods receive theirs through .
The sacred invocations, the offerings of ghee, the rituals of worship—all pass through my mouth.
Tell , then, O Bhrigu—
If I am the sacred mouth through which gods and ancestors are fed, how can I beco an eater of everything?
How can I be made impure?”
Agni's words echoed with reason and truth.
But the curse had already been spoken.
The Fire God fell silent and began to ponder the consequences.
If Bhrigu's curse stood, his sacred role in the universe would be corrupted.
After much thought, Agni made a terrible decision.
Rather than continue under such a curse, he withdrew himself from the world.
One by one, the sacred fires vanished.
The fires of the Agnihotras went out.
The fires of sacrifices died.
The flas that carried offerings to gods and ancestors disappeared from altars everywhere.
Across the earth, priests stood helpless before cold hearths.
Sacred chants continued, but there was no fire to receive the offerings.
The holy cries of “Svaha!” and “Svadha!” lost their purpose.
The ritual exclamations of sacrifice no longer reached the heavens.
Without Agni, the connection between mortals, gods, and ancestors was broken.
Soon the consequences spread through all the worlds.
n, gods, and ancestral spirits alike suffered.
Religious rites ca to a halt.
Sacrifices ceased.
The order of the cosmos itself began to tremble.
And all beings beca miserable in the absence of Fire.
Sauti continued:
As Agni withdrew from the world, chaos spread across the three realms.
Sacrifices could no longer be perford. Sacred fires lay cold and lifeless. The connection between gods, ancestors, and mortals was broken.
The sages grew deeply alard.
Gathering together, they went to the gods and said:
“O divine ones, because Fire has disappeared, all sacrificial rites have co to a halt. The three worlds are thrown into confusion.
Sothing must be done imdiately before even greater disaster follows.”
The gods agreed.
Together with the sages, they journeyed to the abode of Brahma, the Creator.
Standing before the Grandfather of the Worlds, they explained everything—the curse pronounced by Bhrigu, Agni's anger, and his withdrawal from all sacrifices.
Then they pleaded:
“O Blessed One, Agni has been cursed by Bhrigu.
But how can this be right?
He is the mouth of the gods. He receives the first share of every sacrifice. Through him, offerings reach heaven.
How can such a being beco an eater of all things?”
Brahma listened carefully.
Then he summoned Agni to his presence.
When the Fire God appeared, Brahma spoke gently.
“O Agni, you are one of the great sustaining powers of creation.
You help preserve the three worlds.
Through you, sacrifices are perford and the cosmic order is maintained.
Therefore, do not abandon your sacred duties.
Act in a way that allows the rites of the world to continue.”
Then Brahma addressed Agni's fears directly.
“How have you beco so troubled by this curse?
Do you not know your own nature?
You are eternally pure.
You dwell within all beings and sustain all life.
The curse does not an that your entire being will beco impure.
Only those flas that consu offerings and materials will devour all things.
Your essential nature will remain untouched.”
The Creator continued:
“Consider the sun.
Whatever is touched by its rays is purified by its light.
In the sa way, whatever is consud by your flas becos purified, not corrupted.
Therefore, O Agni, let Bhrigu's words beco true in the proper sense.
You may consu all things, yet remain forever pure.
Accept the offerings made to the gods.
Continue to serve as their mouth and ssenger.”
Agni listened to the words of the Creator.
At last, his anger faded.
The burden of the curse was lifted from his heart.
Bowing respectfully, he replied,
“So be it.”
Then he departed to carry out Brahma's command.
At once, the sacred fires returned.
The altars blazed once more.
Priests resud their rituals.
The chants of “Svaha!” and “Svadha!” again rose toward heaven.
Offerings once more reached the gods and the ancestors.
Throughout the worlds, order was restored.
The sages rejoiced.
The gods rejoiced.
All living creatures rejoiced.
And Agni himself, freed from the stain of doubt and misunderstanding, experienced great happiness.
Sauti concluded:
“Thus ends the ancient tale of Agni's curse—the story that began with the rakshasa Puloman's desire, led to his destruction, and resulted in the birth of the great sage Chyavana.”
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