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 ||
सौति म्हणाले— “अशा रीतीने तो राक्षस ज्वलंत जातवेदस अग्नीला संबोधून, भृगूच्या पत्नीविषयी संशय धरून, पुन्हा पुन्हा विचारू लागला.”
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.