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.