goad. The
righteous-souled Rishi did not still give way to anger. The lord of the
deities, himself giving way to anger, then struck Agastya on the head
with his left foot. When the Rishi was thus struck on the head, Bhrigu,
who was staying within Agastya's matted locks, became incensed and cursed
Nahusha of sinful soul, saying, 'Since thou hast struck with thy foot on
the head of this great Rishi, do thou, therefore, fall down on the earth,
transformed into a snake, O wretch of wicked understanding!' Thus cursed
by Bhrigu who had not been seen, Nahusha immediately became transformed
into a snake and fell down on the earth, O chief of Bharata's race! If O
monarch, Nahusha had seen Bhrigu, the latter would not then have
succeeded, by his energy, in hurling the former down on the earth. In
consequence of the various gifts that Nahusha had made, as also his
penances and religious observances though hurled down on the earth, O
king, he succeeded in retaining his memory. He then began to propitiate
Bhrigu with a view to the working out of the curse. Agastya also, filled
with compassion, joined Nahusha in pacifying Bhrigu for bringing about an
end of the curse. At last Bhrigu felt compassion for Nahusha and
provided for the working out of the curse.

"'"Bhrigu said, 'There will appear a king (on earth) of the name of
Yudhishthira, the foremost of his race. He will rescue thee from this
curse.' Having said this, the Rishi vanished in the very sight of
Nahusha. Agastya also, of mighty energy, having thus accomplished the
business of the true Indra, that performer of a hundred sacrifices,
returned to his own asylum, worshipped by all members of the regenerate
order. Thou hast, O king, rescued Nahusha from Bhrigu's curse. Verily,
rescued by thee, he ascended to the region of Brahman in thy sight. As
regards Bhrigu, having hurled Nahusha on the earth, he went to the region
of Brahman and informed the Grandsire of it. The Grandsire, having called
Indra back, addressed the deities, saying. 'Ye deities, through the boon
I had granted him, Nahusha had obtained the sovereignty of heaven.
Deprived, however, of that sovereignty by the enraged Agastya, he has
been hurled on the earth. Ye deities, ye will not succeed in living
without a chief. Do ye, therefore, once more install Indra in the
sovereignty of Heaven.' Unto the Grandsire, O son of Pritha, who said so
unto them, the deities filled with joy, replied, saying, 'So be it!' The
divin