Then, O Bharata, king Nahusha urged Agastya on with his goad. The pious Rishi did not still yield to anger. The lord of the celestials, himself enraged, then struck Agastya on the head with his left foot. When the Rishi was thus struck on the head, Bhrigu, who was living within Agastya's matted locks became incensed and cursed the sinful Nahusha, saying, Since you have struck with your foot on the head of this great Rishi, do you, therefore, fall down on the Earth, changed into a snake, O wretch of wicked understanding! Thus, imprecated by Bhrigu who had not been seen Nahusha, forthwith became transformed into a snake and dropped down on the Earth, O chief of Bharata's race! If, O monarch, Nahusha had seçn Bhrigu, the latter would not then have succeeded, by his power, in hurling the forner down on the Earth. On account 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 keeping his memory. He then began to propitiate Bhrigu with a view to get rid of the curse.
तं तु राजा प्रतोदेन चोदयामास भारत। न चुकोप स धर्मात्मा ततः पादेन देवराट्॥ अगस्त्यस्य तदा क्रुद्धो वामेनाभ्यहनच्छिरः। तस्मिन्शिरस्यभिहते स जटान्तर्गतो भृगुः॥ शशाप बलवत्क्रुद्धो नहुषं पापचेतसम्। यस्मात् पदाऽऽहतः कोधाच्छिरसीमं महामुनिम्॥ तस्मादाशु महीं गच्छ सर्पो भूत्वा सुदुर्मते। इत्युक्तः स तदा तेन सर्पो भूत्वा पपात ह॥ अदृष्टेनाथ भृगुणा भूतले भरतर्षभ। भृगुं हि यदि सोऽद्रक्ष्यन्नहुषः पृथिवीपते॥ न च शक्तोऽभविष्यद् वै पातने तस्य तेजसा। स तु तैस्तैः प्रदानैश्च तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा॥ पतितोऽपि महाराज भूतले स्मृतिमानभूत्। प्रसादयामास भृगु शापान्तो मे भवेदिति॥