Shloka 26
भृगुवंश-प्रस्तावना तथा पुलोमा–अग्नि-संवादः
Bhrigu Lineage Preface and the Pulomā–Agni Dialogue
सौतिर्वाच एवं रक्षस्तमामन्त्रय ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । शड्कमानं भृगोर्भार्या पुनः पुनरपृच्छत,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--इस प्रकार वह राक्षस भृगुकी पत्नीके प्रति, यह मेरी है या भगुकी--ऐसा संशय रखते हुए, प्रज्वलित अग्निको सम्बोधित करके बार-बार पूछने लगा --
sautir uvāca evaṁ rakṣas tam āmantrya jvalitaṁ jātavedasam | śaṅkamānaṁ bhṛgor bhāryā punaḥ punaḥ apṛcchata ||
Sauti said: Thus the rākṣasa, having addressed the blazing Agni (Jātavedas), repeatedly questioned him, while remaining in doubt about Bhṛgu’s wife—wondering again and again, “Is she mine, or is she Bhṛgu’s?”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment and possessiveness generate भ्रम (confusion) and नैतिक अंधता (ethical blindness): the rākṣasa’s desire leads him to seek validation from Agni for a claim that is morally suspect, showing that divine powers are invoked even in moments of adharma-driven uncertainty.
Within Sauti’s narration, a rākṣasa approaches the blazing Agni (Jātavedas) and repeatedly questions him, wavering in doubt about Bhṛgu’s wife—whether she belongs to him or to Bhṛgu—thus pressing Agni as a witness/arbiter amid his uncertainty.