Shloka 21
भृगुवंश-प्रस्तावना तथा पुलोमा–अग्नि-संवादः
Bhrigu Lineage Preface and the Pulomā–Agni Dialogue
इदमन्तरमित्येवं हर्तु चक्रे मनस्तदा । अथाग्निशरणेडपश्यज्ज्वलन्तं जातवेदसम्,यही अच्छा मौका है, ऐसा विचारकर उसने उस समय पुलोमाको हर ले जानेका पक्का निश्चय कर लिया। इतनेहीमें राक्षसने देखा, अग्निहोत्र-गृहमें अग्निदेव प्रज्वलित हो रहे हैं
idam antaram iti evaṁ hartuṁ cakre manas tadā | athāgniśaraṇe ’paśyaj jvalantaṁ jātavedasam ||
Thinking, “This is the right interval,” he then firmly set his mind on abducting Pulomā. Just then the rākṣasa saw, in the fire-sanctuary, the god Agni blazing—Jātavedas, the witness of rites.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma often arises from seizing a ‘convenient moment,’ yet the presence of Agni—the sacred fire and witness of vows and rites—symbolizes moral visibility and the protective power of dharma. Wrongdoing is not merely a private act; it stands before cosmic and ritual order.
A rākṣasa, seeing an opening, resolves to abduct Pulomā. At that very moment he notices Agni blazing in the fire-sanctuary, setting the stage for confrontation between predatory intent and the sanctity/protective force associated with the household sacred fire.