Parashuram : the ascetic warrior

Chapter 3 : Bhrigu's Lineage

Bhrigu, the great sage, Brahmaa's mind-son,

Mighty ascetic, worldly desire he shun,

Always thinking how he betters

The life of men, a man of letters.

A champion of sages, fixed in eyes

How demonic mind humanity defies.

Once he went to check the Trinity

To find who has the most divinity.

Vaikuntha he reached, Vishnu's abode,

Vishnu and Lakshmi no one showed

Him respect, as Vishnu slept,

At His feet Mahaalakshmi kept

On messaging the Lord's feet,

No one once thought him to treat.

Bhrigu hit hard on Vishnu's chest,

Awaking, the Lord served him best.

God of devotees sweetly said,

How he was hurt at his foot-raid.

His chest is strong, always defending,

Bhrigu's leg a weak, poor thing.

His legs He messaged,

And the Great God presaged

He will bear his foot-sign

On His chest, always, fine.

But Mahaa Lakshmi, very enraged,

Burst out in anger, always caged,

Cursing Sri Bhrigu, "Brahmins are egoist,

Won't, but be priest.

However they learn, will only preach,

Brahmins shall never be rich."

Thus spake Lakshmi, furious as hell,

Cause of act, Bhrigu did spell.

Samudratanayaa - Ocean-daughter - thus pacified,

Ever gentle, Her anger died.

Booned She, Spirituality Applied in Discipline,

"Now I see what you mean.

The curse will stay, but a brahmin devotee

Of the Lord, will I pity.

Never will I visit a brahmin-abode,

Except who sings Ishwar's ode."

Returning, Bhrigu told all the sages,

"Vishnu is the best, in all the ages."

Always looking for global balance,

He locked eyes with Ushaa's glance.

The Daitya Hiranyakashipu's daughter was she

From whom Shukra the Acharya will be

Guru of asuras, more famed than his father.

Chyavan was his son other,

Born from Pulomaa, Kardam's daughter.

He made fail Vajra the thunder

Of Indra the King of gods. He did many other feat,

His Chyawanprash we all eat.

Once Bhrigu was performing hom.

A terrible Daitya near did roam.

On Puloma the Daitya had an eye,

Wanted to woo her the sly.

Agni, the god of fire, was burning bright

As the maharshi was doing his rite.

Devi Saraswati, the Noble Great Knowledge -

Aarya Mahaavidyaa - had blessed his college.

Som ras or juice was in the ritual offering

For gods to alleviate suffering.

Short of woods, Bhrigu went to forest.

Enters Daitya, lustful, unrest,

At aashram - rishi's teaching place -

Seeking fervently at rapid pace,

Asking for Pulomaa to all munis there.

They understood what was in the air.

They did not tell, or told lies,

Asked Agni for Pulomaa the vice.

Agni, the pure, could not lie,

Showed the way for Pulomaa shy.

Then the Daitya entered Bhrigu's hut,

All ethics he did shut.

Pulomaa, knowing, flees from there,

The daitya chases the rishi-wife fair.

Alas! She was pregnant, Chyavan in her,

Fell from womb, he did bar

The Daitya's advance. Away he fled.

New-born wiped tears his mother shed.

On return Bhrigu, knowing all,

On Agni did his anger fall.

"Pious Agni, you deliver

Ghee to gods, differ ever

You cannot between right and wrong,

You are unworthy of divine song.

You will consume all in world,

Even the dirtiest, remain curled."

Agni, coming out of fire,

Pleaded the sage to cool his ire.

"I am helpless, so made by God,

Innocent energy, cannot do fraud.

O rishi, do forgive please,

Curse your a bit ease."

Bhrigu said, "Though all-consuming -

Sarbavukh - your innocence will remain blooming.

You will never be impure,

Remain unmaligned, I assure."

Bhrigu bore Dadhichi, his son from mind,

Who willfully died in gods' task assigned.

Chyavan had two wives,

Sukanyaa, giver of positive vibes,

King Sharyaati was her father;

Manu's Aarushee the wife other.

Aurva was Aarushee's son.

From Aurva Wricheek was born.

Wricheek married Satyavatee, King Gaadhi's daughter,

Vishwaamitra, the king-turned-sage, was her brother.

The great sage Jamadagni was their son illustrious

From whom was born Parashuraam, God furious.