The baby in Puloma’s womb was so disturbed at this forced abduction that he dropped out of her womb. His name came to be Chyavana. The boy was so bright, like a sun, that the startled rakshasa dropped Puloma and promptly fell down and was burned to ashes.
When Bhrigu found out what had happened, he was furious with Agni because it was Agni who had identified Puloma to the rakshasa. He cursed Agni to be the devourer of everything- pure and impure, with no distinction. Now Agni was furious and he pulled away from all the places that he used to be, which meant there was no agni at sacrifices and ceremonies and homas. Since he was not present to carry what was offered in the sacrifices, the devas and pitrus also could not get their offerings.
The gods and rishis went to Brahma with their problem and Brahma called Agni to him. He asked Agni not to stay away from all the places where he was supposed to be. Now, Brahma blessed Agni that ANYTHING that he consumed or anything poured into him would automatically become pure so there was no question of him eating pure and impure things.
Happy now, Agni went back to the homas and sacrifices and rituals and yagas and anything that was poured into or offered to Agni was deemed pure because of Agni’s touch.
