Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.103

c9.103

Agni blessed Rambha that he would have, as desired, a son by the woman whom he coveted. On his way back home he saw a beautiful she-buffalo, which he married. He took the buffalo which got pregnant by him, to Pātāla to protect it from the attack by other buffaloes. One day another buffalo felt a passion for Rambha's wife and in the fight that ensued Rambha was killed by it. Rambha's wife died in his funeral pyre. It was from the centre of the fire that the very powerful Mahiṣāsura was born. Rambhāsura also rose from the fire under the name Raktabīja. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17; Devī Bhāgavata, 5th Skandha).