Episode 5 Rsis, Raksasas, and Lecturing Lizards

Listen to this episode from The Mahabharata on Spotify. The Bhargava cycle of stories begins, with Ruru

The story of Bhrgu and his pregnant wife Puloma begins the Bhargava cycle of stories, which brings us to the snake-murdering career of the brahmin Ruru

Characters in this episode:

Bhrgu - Ancient sage; descendants called the Bhargavas

Cyavana - Son of Bhrgu and Puloma, born during violent assault of his mother

Pramadvara - daughter of apsara Menaka, wife of Ruru

Puloma - Wife of Bhrgu, mother of Cyavana, assaulted by raksasa Puloman

Puloman - raksasa who assaults Puloma

Ruru - Great-grandson of Bhrgu, hates snakes

Saunaka - Chief of the brahmins hearing Ugrasravas’s narration of the Mahabharata