In days of yore, while the great Rishi Bharadvaja was saying his prayers by the side of the divine Ganga, one of the three feet of Vishnu, when he assumed his three-footed form, reached that place. Seeing that strange spectacle Bharadvaja attacked Vishnu with a handful of water, upon which Vishnu's bosom received a (mystic mark). Cursed by that foremost of Rishis, viz., Bhrigu, Agni was obliged to become a devourer of all things.
आकाशगङ्गागतश्च पुरा भरद्वाजो महर्षिरुपास्पृशत् त्रीन् क्रमान् क्रमता विष्णुनाभ्यासादित: स भरद्वाजेन ससलिलेन पाणिनोरसि ताडितः सलक्षणोरस्कः संवृत्तः॥ भृगुणा महर्षिणा शप्तोऽग्निः सर्वभक्षत्वमुपानीतः॥