३४ चतुस्त्रिंशदशकः - गौतमशापः

34 chatustrimshadashakah' - gautamashaapah'-The curse

of sage Gauthama

(Those Brahmins who heard that Gauthama is being praised in

Deva loka sent a cow which was about to die to his hermitage
and accused him of killing a cow. The sage cursed them saying
that all of them should get engaged in evil despicable acts. The
sage then went and approached Goddess Gayathri. When the
Brahmins became sad and repentant, the sage told them that
when Lord Krishna is born in the world, if they go and salute
him, the curse will go away. This also is a part of Chapter 9 of
book 12 of devi Bhagwatha)

स्वर्वा सिसिर्गौतमकीसतारुच्चै र्
र्गीतव ििविु सिदशैैः िदे ’सत ।
आकर्ण्ा दे र्सषामुखवत्कृतघ्नव
सिजव बिूर्ुैः सकल िेर्ष्ासितवैः ॥ ३४-१॥
Svarvaasibhirgautamakeerttiruchchair
geetaa sabhaasu tridashaih' sade’ti .
aakarnya devarshimukhaatkri'taghnaa
dvijaa babhoovuh' kila sershyachittaah' .. 34-1..

1. The devas, who were residents of heavens, were always singing the
glories of Gauthama, in their assemblies. Hearing like this from the
mouth of Narada, a feeling of jealousy arose in the mind of the
ungrateful brahmins.
 It was mentioned in the previous chapter that due to their stay in
the ashrama the minds of the brahmins had become pure. Now it is
being said that only the minds of the brahmins did not become pure.
On hearing the news that the glories of Gauthama has spread even
to the heavens, caused jealousy to grow in their minds. They even
forgot the fact that they have been living under the generosity of
Gauthama. Ungrateful people are the ones who forget the
benevolence done to them. They felt jealous about Gauthama.
Unable to see the prosperity of others is envy. ‘I am a brahmin;
gauthama also is a brahmin; then what is so special about
gauthama?’-like this each and every brahmin started to think. Not
just that, they even started to think of ways as to how to destroy
Gauthama’s greatness.
Once upon a time, Nārada, of best conduct, came there playing on
his great lute and singing in tune the highest glories of Gāyatrī and
took his seat in the assembly of the Munis. Seeing the tranquil
hearted Nārada coming there, Gautama and the other Munis
received him duly and worshipped him with the Pādya and Arghya.
In course of conversation he began to describe the glories of
Gautama and said :-- “O Best of Munis! I have heard from the mouth
of Indra, in the assembly of the Devas, your glories as to your
supporting and feeding the pure-hearted Munis and I have come to
see you. By the Grace of Śrī Bhagavatī Gāyatrī Devī, you have now
become blessed. There is no doubt in this.” Thus saying, the Devarṣi
Nārada entered into the temple of the Devī Gāyatrī and with eyes
gladdened by love, saw the Devī there and offered due hymns in
praise of Her and then ascended to the Heavens. Here, on the other
hand, the Brāhmaṇas that were fed by Gautama, became jealous at
so much honour offered to Gautama and tried their best so that no
further honour be paid to him.
तैमवा ययवऽऽिन्नमृसतैः कृतव र्ग ैः
िव प्रेसषतव र्ग तमहोमशवलवम् ।
अर्गवन्मुनेजुाह्वत एर् र्ह्न
हुङ्कवरमविेण पपवत िोर्व्वा म् ॥ ३४-२॥
tairmaayayaa''sannamri'tih' kri'taa gauh'
saa preshitaa gautamahomashaalaam .
agaanmunerjuhvata eva vahnau
hunkaaramaatrena papaata chorvyaam .. 34-2..

2.Using illusion they created a cow which was about to die. That cow
which was let loose, reached Gauthama’s sacrificial hall. The muni
who was conducting a yagya, chanted the ‘hunn’ manthra while
offering to the sacrificial fire, the cow dropped dead.
To obstruct Gauthama’s sacrifice, the brahmins came up with a
secret plan. They created an illusory cow-a cow that could fall down
dead any time. They pushed the cow towards gauthama’s sacrificial
hall. Tired after walking so much, it reached close to sacrificial pit.
Gauthama, who was performing the fire sacrifice, in order to send
the cow back outside, made a sound that sounded like ‘hunn’. With
that the cow dropped down dead.
They further settled not to stay any longer in his Āśrama, when the
next good harvest season comes. (Thus his glories will wane). Some
days passed when good rains fell and there was an abundance of
crops everywhere and the famine ended. Hearing this, all the
Brāhmins united, to curse Gautama. These Brāhmins created, by
Māyā, an aged cow, who was to die and pushed her in the sacrificial
hall of the Muni Gautama at the time of the Homa ceremony. Seeing
that cow entering into the enclosure where the Homa was being
performed, Gautama cried out “Hoom Hoom” when the cow fell
there and died.

हतव हतव र्ग ररह र्ग तमेने-

त्युच्चैसिा जवैः प्रोच्य मुसनिं सनसननदु ैः ।
ि िेद्धकोपैः प्रलयवनलवि-
स्तवन् रक्तनेिैः प्रशपन्नुर्वि ॥ ३४-३॥
hataa hataa gauriha gautamene-
tyuchchairdvijaah' prochya munim nininduh' .
sa cheddhakopah' pralayaanalaabha-
staan raktanetrah' prashapannuvaacha .. 34-3..

3.The Brahmins started insulting Gauthama now, by shouting loudly

“He has killed a cow, killed”. That sage, whose eyes turned red due to
anger, similar to fire at the time of deluge, cursing them, started
telling them.
‘Gauthama has killed a cow’ -killed an animal-like this the brahmins
started shouting and insulting the muni. Gauthama has committed a
sin of killing a cow-they said loudly and thus insulted the sage.
Gauthama had not expected them to turn into traitors. Suddenly he
got very angry, cursing them he spoke thus
the other Brāhmaṇas instantly cried out “Look! Look! The wicked
Gautama has killed the cow.” Seeing this inconceivable event,
Gautama was greatly non-plussed(confused) and, completing his
Homa ceremony, entered into Samādhi and began to think the cause
of it.

Then, coming to know that this has been concocted by the Māyā of
the Brāhmins, he became angry like Rudra at the time of dissolution;
his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Ṛṣis, thus :--
व्रतेषु यज्ञेषु सनर्ृसतशवस्त्रे -
ष्वसप सिजव र्ो सर्मुखत्वमस्तु ।
सनसषद्धकमवा िरणे रतवैः स्त
स्त्रस्त्रयैः प्रजव र्ोऽसप तथव िर्न्तु ॥ ३४-४॥
vrateshu yajnyeshu nivri'ttishaastre-
shvapi dvijaa vo vimukhatvamastu .
nishiddhakarmaacharane rataah' sta
striyah' prajaa vo'pi tathaa bhavantu .. 34-4..

4 Oh Brahmins may you be unwilling to do vratas, Yajnas and sastras

preaching salvation, may you be interested in doing forbidden acts.
Let the same thing happen to your women and children.
Gauthama cursed the brahmins with very harsh words. Not doing
what is usually done, do what one is not supposed to do-these 2
things should happen to brahmins was the curse. Scriptures that
teach how to get relief from worldly relations is called remedial
science. Gauthama’s curse had penetrated right into the children of
the brahmins.
Oh vile Brāhmins! When you are ready to cause mischief to me
unjustly then let you be averse to meditate and do the japam of the
Devī Gāyatrī, the Mother of the Vedas. For this act of yours, never will
you be eager to perform any Vedic sacrificial acts or any action
concerning thereof. There is no doubt in this. You will be always
averse to the mantra of Śiva or the Tantra of Śiva. You will be always
averse to Mūla Prakriti Śrī Devī, to Her Dhyānam, mantra, to any
conversation regarding Her; to the visiting of Her place or Temple, to
do worship and other ceremonies to Her, to see the Grand Festivals
of the Devī, to singing the names and glories of the Devī, to sit
before the Devī and to adore Her.
O vile Brāhmaṇas! You will be always be averse to see the festivals of
Śiva, to worship Śiva, to Rudrākṣa, to the Bel leaves, and to the holy
Bhaṣma (ashes). You will be wholly indifferent to practise the right
ways of living as presented in the Vedas and Smritis, to preserve
your conduct good and to observe the path of knowledge to Advaita
Jñānam, to practise restraint of senses and continence, to the daily
practices of Sandhyā Vandanam, to performing the Agnihotra
ceremonies, to the study of the Vedas according to one’s own Śākhā
or to the daily studies thereof as to teach those things or to give, as
gifts, cows, etc., or to perform the Śrāddhas of the fathers, etc., and
other penances. O Vile Brāhmaṇas! As you are ready to do these
mean things, you will have to suffer for this that you will desist from
worshipping the Most Adorable Śrī Bhagavatī Devī and that you will
worship the other Devas with faith and devotion and hold on your
bodies Śamkha, Cakra and other signs. You will follow the Kāpālikas,
Bauddha Śāstras and other heretics. You will sell your father, mother,
brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and even your wives too!

You will sell the Vedas, Tīrthas, and your Dharma. You will not feel
ashamed in any way to sell all these. You will certainly have faith in
Kāpālika and Bauddha opinions, Pāñcharātras and Kāma Śāstras. O
vile Brāhmanas! You will not hesitate to go to your mother,
daughters or sisters and you will always be licentious with otherś
wives and spend your time in that. This is not to you only but to the
women and men, all that will come in your families. Let the Gāyatrī
Devī be always indignant with you and let you all go in the end to
the Andha Kūpa hells, etc.

ित्सङ्गमो मवऽस्तु जर्गज्जनन्वैः

कथवमृते र्ो न रसतैः खलु स्यवत् ।
पवषण्डकवपवसलकर्ृसतपवपैैः
पीडव िर्ेिो नरकेषु सनत्यम् ॥ ३४-५॥
satsangamo maa'stu jagajjananyaah'
kathaamri'te vo na ratih' khalu syaat .
paashand'akaapaalikavri'ttipaapaih'
peed'aa bhavedvo narakeshu nityam .. 34-5..

5.May you not get the company of a good religious group, you will
lose interest in the nectar like stories of mother of the universe. May
you get the sins of the paashandavritti, kaapaalikkavritti and suffer
daily like how one suffers in hell.
Even if one does not follow the remedial sciences, talking to people
and by keeping good company, one can save oneself. Due the curse
by gauthama, the brahmins were unable to even that. They will have
no interest in listening to stories of devi. They will behave as an
atheist or as if afflicted with leprosy. They will be struck by the sins
got from such behaviour. Because of which they will always
experience the pains of hell-a terrible curse.

उक्त्वैर्मवयो मुसनरे त्य र्गवय-

त्र्यवख्विं कृपवर्द्वां िर्तीिं ननवम ।
त्वमवत्थ दु ग्धिं िुजर्गवय दतिं
दवतुैः िदवऽनथादमे र् सर्स्त्रद्ध ॥ ३४-६॥
uktvaivamaaryo muniretya gaaya-
tryaakhyaam kri'paardraam bhavateem nanaama .
tvamaattha dugdham bhujagaaya dattam
daatuh' sadaa'narthadameva viddhi .. 34-6..
6.After saying like this the sage, approached the merciful You by
name of Gayathri, and saluted you. Then You told him, “Giving milk
to a snake, would always cause harm to the giver.”
After having cursed the brahmanas severely, gauthama went and
saluted in front of Gayatri devi. He felt that because of his extreme
anger, the effects of all his penances had drained out. He had said
too much of words that should not have been said. Now what to
do?no use wasting time thinking about it. The maharshi went and
saluted in front of Gayatridevi. Devi said-‘if one gives milk to a snake,
it will bite the giver’.
Thus taking the water symbolising the true rules and laws of
creation, and Cursing the Brāhmaṇas, the Muni Gautama went hastily
to see the Gāyatrī Devī and, on arriving at the temple there bowed
down to Her. The Devī, too, became surprised to see their actions.
Even today Her Lotus Face looks similarly astonished! Then the
Gāyatrī Devī told Gautama with amazement :-- “O Gautama! The
venom of the snake does not become less if you feed the serpents
with milk; so never mind all these things; the Karmas take their
peculiar turns; it is hard to say when what will happen. Now be
peaceful. Do not be sorry.”

िदे दृशी कमार्गसतमाहषे

शवस्त्रन्तिं िज स्विं तप एर् रक्ष ।
मव कुप्यतवमेर्मृसषसनाशम्य
महवनुतवपवर्द्ामनव बिूर् ॥ ३४-७॥
sadedri'shee karmagatirmaharshe
shaantim bhaja svam tapa eva raksha .
maa kupyataamevamri'shirnishamya
mahaanutaapaardramanaa babhoova .. 34-7..
7.” Oh great sage, the path of fate is always like this. So be calm.
Protect Your own penances do not get angry”. Hearing this the sage,
felt very regretful and his mind melted.
Having taken care of the brahmanas for so many years, he got only
defamation. Why so? We can only say it is fate’s way. The way path
of fate is very intensive. The fruits of the deeds and the sadness and
happiness that go with it-everything is a flow. Nobody can identify
the acts that causes happiness and sadness we are experiencing now
only devi can identify. The results of the acts that we do now will be
benefitted only when the time comes. Everybody has to face the
results of the deeds done. In case you don’t want to be sad in the
future, then don’t do bad deeds. Gauthama was very well aware of
the complexity of the path of karma. But, when he got angry,
suddenly his wisdom became dull. Gayatri Devi reminded him about
everything. Devi disappeared. The maharshi became sick due to
regret, he began to pray to devi again.

शप्तव सिजव सर्स्मृ तर्ेदमन्त्रव

लब्ध्वव सर्र्ेकिं समसलतव मुसनिं तम् ।
प्रवप्तवैः प्रिीदे सत मु हुर्ादन्तो
नत्वव िपवनम्रमुखव असतष्ठन् ॥ ३४-८॥
shaptaa dvijaa vismri'tavedamantraa
labdhvaa vivekam militaa munim tam .
praaptaah' praseedeti muhurvadanto
natvaa trapaanamramukhaa atisht'han .. 34-8..

8.The Brahmins who were cursed, forgot all the Veda manthras,
eventually they got back their wisdom, together went to the muni
and surrendered to him, and again and again ask for pardon and
stood before him with bent head.
The brahmanas who were cursed, soon forgot all the veda-mantras.
They thought and found out about the reason-a curse by a great
rishi. They regretted having defamed gauthama. They got back the
wisdom that they had lost earlier, due to anger and jealousy. All of
them went in front of Gauthama and prostrated before him. They
put forth their request with a ‘please’. They stood there bowing their
head in shame.
the Brāhmaṇas forgot everything due to the curse of Gautama, of the
Vedas and the Gāyatrī Mantra. They then began to look at this event
with wonder as unique and extraordinary. All united they afterwards
repented and going before Gautama, fell prostrate at his feet. But
they could not speak any word out of shame. Only they said
frequently :-- “Be pleased, be pleased with us.”

कृपवर्द्ानेिो मुसनरवह न स्यवन्

मृषव र्िो मे नरके र्िेत ।
जवयेत सर्ष्णुिुार्ी कृष्णनवमव
र्न्दे त तिं शवपसर्मोिनवथाम् ॥ ३४-९॥
kri'paardranetro muniraaha na syaan-
mri'shaa vacho me narake vaseta .
jaayeta vishnurbhuvee kri'shnanaamaa
vandeta tam shaapavimochanaartham .. 34-9..

9.That sage whose eyes became wet with mercy told them, “My
words will never go false; So live in hell. Lord Vishnu will be born on
earth, with the name of Krishna. Pray to him to be free off the curse.
Gauthama regretted having cursed the brahmanas. The brahmanas
too regretted having defamed gauthama. They gave respect to each
other. Finally Gauthama said,’even though I said in anger, what I
have said will have results. Because of that you will have to suffer in
hell for sometime. At the end of dwapara yuga, Vishnu will be born
as krishna on earth. At that time you should go and pray to him. If
you do this you will be immediately relieved from the curse-
maharshi thus comforted them.
When all the assembly of the Brāhmaṇas prayed to him for favour
and grace, the Muni Gautama took pity on them and replied. My
word will never turn out false. You will have to remain in Kumbhīpāka
hell upto the time when Śrī Kṛṣṇa will take his incarnation. Then you
will be born in the earth in the Kālī age and whatever I have uttered
will exactly come unto you. And if you are in earnest to avert my
curse then go and worship the Lotus Feet of Śrī Gāyatrī Devī. The is
no other remedy.

स्वपवपमुक्त्यथामनन्तशस्त्रक्तिं
दे र्ीिं िदव ध्यवयत िस्त्रक्तपूतवैः ।
िर्ाि िूयवच्छु िसमत्युदीया
र्गवयसि दध्य िर्तीिं महसषाैः ॥ ३४-१०॥
svapaapamuktyarthamanantashaktim
deveem sadaa dhyaayata bhaktipootaah' .
sarvatra bhooyaachchhubhamityudeerya
gaayatri dadhyau bhavateem maharshih' .. 34-10..

10.“For getting rid of your own sins, always meditate on the Goddess
with endless power, after becoming pure by devotion; may
everything auspicious happen to you”, saying thus, Oh Goddess
Gayatri! the sage started meditating on you.
Gauthama continues.” I had mentioned earlier that you should pray
to Srikrishna, only that is not enough. You should meditate on the all
powerful devi also. Because, everything that takes place is devi’s
wish. May only good happen to you all the time”. Saying like this, the
maharshi started to meditate on gayatri devi again.
The story of gauthama can be seen in the 12th skanda, chapter 9
of devi bhagavatham.

मुञ्चवसन मव र्वक्शरमन्सिते
कृतघ्नतव मवऽस्तु ममवन्तरङ्गे ।
सनन्दवसन मव िज्जनमेष िीतो
िर्वसन पवपविरदे नमस्ते ॥ ३४-११॥
munchaani maa vaaksharamanyachitte
kri'taghnataa maa'stu mamaantarange .
nindaani maa sajjanamesha bheeto
bhavaani paapaadvarade namaste .. 34-11..

11.Let me not shoot the arrow of words at the mind of others. let
there be no ingratitude forever in my mind. Let me not defame good
people. Oh Bhavani let me be one who is always scared of sins. Hey
giver of boons, my salutations.
The brahmanas were not grateful to gauthama, in fact they
developed a feeling of ingratitude towards him. They defamed him.
These were their twisted mistakes. Gauthama too made mistakes-he
cursed the brahmanas with harsh and cruel words. To get power
from meditation is not easy. It is easy to destroy this power via lust
or anger. The ingratitudness that the brahmanas showed towards a
good man also was a great sin. The poet wishes that the mistakes
committed by the brahmanas and gauthama should not be
committed by him. To help him achieve this the poet prays to devi.
Thus dismissing the Brāhmaṇas, Gautama Muni thought that all
these occurred as a result of Prārabdha Karma and he became calm
and quiet. For this reason, after Śrī Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja ascended to the
Heavens, when the Kālī age came, those cursed Brāhmaṇas got out
of the Kumbhīpāka hell and took their births in this earth as
Brāhmins, devoid of the three Sandhyās, devoid of the devotion to
Gāyatrī, devoid of faith in the Vedas, advocating the hereticś opinion
and unwilling to perform Agnihotra and other religious sacrifices and
duties and they were devoid of Svadhā and Svāhā. They forgot
entirely the Unmanifested Mūla Prakriti Bhagavatī. Some of them
began to mark on their bodies various heretical signs, e.g.,
Taptamūdrā, etc.; some became Kāpālikas; some became Kaulas;
some Bauddhas and some Jainas. Many of them, though learned,
became lewd and addicted to other’s wives and engaged themselves
in vain and bad disputations. For these, they will have to go again
surely to the Kumbhīpāka hell. Worship with your heart and soul Śrī
Bhagavatī Parameśvarī Devī. The worship of Viṣṇu or Śiva is not
constant (to be done everyday); only the worship of Śakti is to be
constantly performed. For this reason whoever does not worship
Śakti is sure to fall.

This 34th chapter is completed