The day came when it was
Agastya's turn to bear the vehicles, O Bharata. At that time, Bhrigu,
that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, repaired to the
presence of Agastya while the latter was seated in his asylum, and
addressing him, said, 'O great ascetic, why should we patiently put up
with such indignity inflicted on us by this wicked-souled Nahusha who has
become the chief of the deities?'
"Agastya said, 'How can I succeed in cursing Nahusha, O great Rishi? It
is known to thee how the boon-giving (Brahman) himself has given Nahusha
the best of boons! Coming to heaven, the boon that Nahusha solicited was
that whoever would come within the range of his vision would, deprived of
all energy, come within his sway. The self-born Brahman granted him even
this boon, and it is for that reason that neither thyself nor I have been
able to consume him. Without doubt, is for this reason that none else
amongst the foremost of Rishis has been able to consume or hurl him down
from his high position, Formerly, O Lord, nectar was given by Brahman to
Nahusha for quaffing. For that reason also we have become powerless
against him. The supreme deity, it seems, gave that boon to Nahusha for
plunging all creatures into grief. That wretch among men behaves most
unrighteously towards the Brahmanas.
Pages:
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707