The foremost of Rishis, viz., Agastya born within a jar, of the semen of Maitra-varuna, saw those foremost of Rishis insulted by Nahusha in that way. Nahusha struck Him with his foot. Agastya said to him,-Wretch, as you are doing a highly improper act, do you fall down on the Earth! Be changed into a snake and do you continue to live in that form as long as the Earth and her hills continue!-As soon as these words were uttered by the great Rishi, Nahusha dropped down from that vehicle.
अथ मैत्रावरुणिः कुम्भयोनिरगस्त्य ऋषिवरो महर्षीन् धिक्क्रियमाणांस्तान् नहुषेणापश्यत् पट्यांच तेनास्पृश्यत तत: स नहुषमब्रवीदकार्यप्रवृत्त पाप पतस्व महीं सर्पो भव यावद्भूमिर्गिरयश्च तिष्ठेयुस्तावदिति स तिष्ठेयुस्तावदिति स महर्षिवाक्यसमकालमेव तस्माद् यानादवापतत्॥