6-MBH Cursed LivesIn Mahaabhaarat times many people were
living under curse, let us see who and who were living under curse --
Shaantanu
The first cursed person in Mahaabhaarat is Shaantanu.
MBH tells the story of his curse like this that in his previous life he was
Mahaabhish named King. He was a friend of Indra and used to go Indra's court
occasionally to see Apsaraa's dances. Once when he was sitting there, Gangaa
also came there with her father Brahmaa Jee. Mahaabhish saw Gangaa and Gangaa
saw Mahaabhish, both continued to look each other for some time. Mean while
wind came and it removed Gangaa's cloth from her body. Seeing this the other
Devtaa sitting there bent their heads, but Mahaabhish and Gangaa kept looking
at each other. Seeing this Brahmaa Jee cursed him - "You have forgotten
yourself seeing Gangaa, you will be reborn on Earth but then will come back
here. She will also be born on Earth and will do injuries to you. But when
you will be angry at her, you will be free from my curse." So King Mahaabhish
decided to be born as the son of Prateep, and Gangaa also went away from
there thinking about him.
Gangaa
The second cursed person, in the same context as of Shaantanu, is Gangaa.
Mahaabhish King was a friend of Indra and used to go to Indra's
court occasionally to see Apsaraa's dances. Once when he was sitting
there, Gangaa also came there with her father Brahmaa Jee. Mahaabhish saw
Gangaa and Gangaa saw Mahaabhish, both continued to look each other for
some time. Mean while wind came and it removed Gangaa's cloth from her
body. Seeing this the other Devtaa sitting there bent their heads, but
Mahaabhish and Gangaa kept looking at each other. Seeing this Brahmaa Jee
cursed Gangaa to live with Mahaabhish on Prithvi.
Bheeshm
Bheeshm was one of the eight Vasu. He was also living a cursed life on
Prithvi. When Gangaa was going back from Indra's court after her father's
curse, she met eight Vasu on her way. They were all sad. She asked them
why were they so sad. They told her their story - "We are cursed by
Vashishth. He was sitting for his evening worship, we could not see him
and crossed him, so he cursed us to be born on Earth. Since you are also
cursed by Brahmaa Jee to be born on Prithvi, you be our mother, because
we do not want to be born from any human female." Gangaa said - "So
be it, but whom you would like to be your father on Earth?" Vasu said - "King Prateep
will have a son Shaantanu." Gangaa said - "That was exactly what
I was thinking." Vasu again said - "You may throw your children in
your water as soon as they are born, so that we won't have to live there for
long time." Gangaa said - "That is fine, but my living with him should
not be completely fruitless, so one of you should live there." At this Vasu
said - "We each will give 1/8th part of our energy to your one son and he
will live there according to your and his wish. But this son will not have any
child on Earth." After this Vasu went away.
And this cursed Vasu was Bheeshm.
Vidur
Vidur was the incarnation of Dharm Raaj and was born to live on Prithvi by
the curse of a Rishi Animaandavya. Once Maandavya Rishi was mistakenly
caught by the servants of a King, along with some other people, for a theft
and was hung upon a stake to die. Since he was doing Tapasyaa, he neither felt
any pain, nor he knew that he was caught. Luckily, a prostitute was carrying
her husband on her shoulder. So while she was carrying him, her husband's foot
hit the body of the Rishi. He woke up and felt pain. He cried - "Take me
off from this stake. Who has put me here?" The servants told him that he
was hung there because he stole the things. Rishi said - "Do I look like
a thief? Take me to your King, I want to see him." In the meantime, the
King heard that among the thieves caught for the theft there was an ascetic
also. He immediately ordered to take him off from the stake. The servants took
him off from the stake. The King asked for his forgiveness and he forgave the
King.
But then he went to Yam Raaj and asked him why
he had to suffer this much pain. Yam Raaj asked his accountant Chitrarath and
he told him that the Muni had pierced a Tiddee by a Kush grass in his childhood.
Muni said - "It must have been in my childhood when I was not aware of the
sin." Chitrarath said - "Yes this was when you were 5 years old."
Muni said - "Absurd. No 5 year old child knows about sin. Since you have
given me so much pain without even considering the situation, you will be born
on Prithvi in a Shoodra family."
And because of this curse Yam Raaj was born
as Vidur in a Shoodra family (serving family).
Python
While Paandav were living in exile and when Arjun had gone to Swarg, once
Draupadee saw a divine flower, Mandar flower, and asked Bheem to find more
for her. Bheem brought them for her but somehow all Paandav joined him
later. When they were coming back they stayed in Vishaaksh Yoop Van for
one year. One day Bheem just went out and breaking the trees and following
the wild animals he found a huge snake in a cave. The snake caught him in
his coil so forcefully that Bheem, even being so powerful could not come
out of his grip. He himself was very surprised to see this that he could
not come out of his grip even being so powerful. Then he told the story of
his curse - that he was Raajaa Nahush. Because of his good Karm he was
appointed Indra in the emergency. As he became Indra, he became proud and
desired for Indraanee. Indraanee went to Dev Guru Brihaspati to find a
solution of this problem. He suggested her to ask the King to come to her
in the palanquin lifted by Rishi. In the happiness of getting Indraanee,
the King forgot all etiquette and asked Rishi to carry his palanquin to
Indraanee's palace.
So they took him to Indraanee's palace.
Since Rishi did not have the habit to carry loads, they were walking
slowly, but unfortunate Nahush was in hurry to meet Indraanee, so he
said to them - "Sarp, Sarp." Now Sarp in Sanskrit language
has two meanings - snake and walk fast. Since Nahush was in hurry, he
said this word a few times to those Rishi. Among those Rishi there was
Agastya Rishi too. Once he kicked him with his foot to walk fast. Agastya
Rishi filled with anger cursed him - "You are telling us "Sarp,
Sarp" (walk fast), you yourself become Sarp (snake) and fall on
Prithvi." As he cursed like this,, Nahush became Sarp and started
falling down from Swarg. Frightened as he was he prayed Rishi and asked
the time of the release from his curse. Agastya Jee said - "When in
Dwaapar Yug, you will catch hold the mightiest person, his brother Yudhishthir
will come to you, and when he will reply your all questions then you will
be released from my curse."
That snake said - "Since then I have caught
many people and have eaten them. It is you only to whom I could not eat."
In the meantime Yudhishthir came there. Nahush asked a few questions from
him, Yudhishthir replied all those questions and then only he released Bheem.
Thus that snake, Raajaa Nahush, was also
living a cursed life in Mahaabhaarat times.
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