to the place whence they came. And the Rishis began to perform as before their ceremonies and sacrifices. And the gods in heaven and all creatures of the world rejoiced exceedingly. And Agni too rejoiced in that he was free from the prospect of sin.
"Thus, O possessor of the six attributes, had Agni been cursed in days of yore by Bhrigu. And such is the ancient history founded thereon, the destruction of the Rakshasa Puloma, and the birth of Chyavana."
Thus endeth the seventh Section of the Pauloma of the Adi Parva of the blessed Mahabharata.
Section VIII.
( Pauloma Parva continued. )
Sauti said:—"O Brahmana, Chyavana the son of Bhrigu begot in the womb of his wife Su-kanya a son. And that son was the illustrious Pramati of resplendent energy. And Pramati begot in the womb of Ghritāchi a son called Ruru. And Ruru begot by his wife Pramadvarā a son called Sunaka. And I shall relate to you in detail, O Brahmana, the entire history of Ruru of abundant energy. O listen to it then in full!
"Formerly there was a great Rishi called Sthula-kesha possessed of ascetic power and learning and kindly disposed towards all creatures. At that time, O Brahmana sage, Viswavashu, the King of the Gandharvas, it is said, knew Menakā the celestial dancing-girl. And the Apsarā, Menakā, O thou of the Bhrigu race, when her time was come, dropped the infant in her womb near the hermitage of Sthula-kesha. And dropping the new-born infant on the banks of the river, the Apsarā, Menakā, O Brahmana, being destitute of pity and shame, went away. And the Rishi, Sthula-kesha, of great ascetic power discovered the infant lying forsaken in a lonely part of the river side. And he perceived that it was a female child, bright as the offspring of an Immortal and as it were blazing with beauty. And the great Brahmana, Sthula-kesha, that first of Munis, seeing that female child, and filled with compassion, took it up and reared it. And the lovely child grew up in his holy habitation, the noble-minded and blessed
