Sauti continued the tale.
After hearing Agni's answer, the rakshasa Puloman wasted no time.
With a triumphant roar, he assumed the form of a gigantic wild boar. Then, moving with the speed of thought itself, he seized Puloma and carried her away from the hermitage.
Puloma cried out in terror as the demon raced through the forest.
But within her womb was the unborn child of the sage Bhrigu.
The child sensed his mother's suffering and the violence that had been done to her. Filled with anger even before birth, he could no longer remain within her womb.
Suddenly, the infant fell from his mother's body.
For this reason, he would later become known as Chyavana—"the Fallen One," the child who emerged by falling from the womb.
The newborn shone with a brilliance equal to the rising sun.
The moment the rakshasa looked upon the radiant infant, he was overwhelmed by the child's divine power.
Puloman released Puloma at once.
Then, before he could even cry out, the demon's body burst into flames.
In an instant, he was reduced to ashes.
His crime had brought about his own destruction.
Though exhausted and nearly overcome with grief, Puloma gathered the shining child into her arms and continued her journey through the forest.
Tears streamed from her eyes.
As she walked, weeping for all that had happened, her sorrow was so great that the tears falling from her face formed a river.
The river flowed behind her, following every step she took.
At that moment, the creator god Brahma himself beheld the scene.
He saw the grieving wife of Bhrigu carrying her newborn son, her eyes swollen with tears.
Moved by compassion, Brahma descended and comforted her.
Seeing the river that had arisen from her sorrow and followed her path, Brahma gave it a name.
“Let this river be known as Vadhusara,” he declared, “the River of the Bride.”
And so the sacred river came into existence, flowing near the place where Chyavana would one day establish his hermitage.
Thus was born Chyavana, the mighty son of Bhrigu.
Not long afterward, Bhrigu returned to his hermitage.
There he found his wife and his newborn son.
The sight should have filled him with joy.
Instead, he immediately sensed that something terrible had happened.
His eyes narrowed.
Anger flared within him.
Turning to Puloma, he demanded,
“Who revealed your identity to that rakshasa?
How did he learn that you were my wife?
Tell me the truth.
That demon could not have known this on his own.
Who informed him?
Speak! For I intend to curse the one responsible.
Who would dare violate the sanctity of my hermitage and think himself beyond the reach of my wrath?”
Puloma lowered her eyes.
“It was Agni,” she answered quietly.
“The Fire God told the rakshasa who I was.
After learning the truth, the demon carried me away while I cried helplessly.
Only the power of your son saved me.
When Chyavana was born, the rakshasa was burned to ashes and fell dead upon the ground.”
The moment Bhrigu heard Agni's name, his face darkened with fury.
His anger became like a blazing storm.
Without pausing to consider Agni's dilemma, the sage pronounced a terrible curse.
“O Agni!” he thundered.
“Because you revealed this secret and aided the rakshasa, I curse you.
From this day forward, you shall become Sarvabhaksha—the eater of all things.
Nothing shall be beyond your consumption.”
The words rang through the worlds like a thunderclap.
And thus began the famous dispute between the sage Bhrigu and the god of fire, a conflict whose consequences would affect gods, men, and sacrificial rites throughout the universe.