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.