Narada Curses the Laughing Ganas
Bala Kanda, Doha 135
Doha 135 · Movement 2 of 2
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The two attendants have fled, but Narada's words overtake them. He curses them to become rakshasas, night wandering beings clothed in the violent nature of those who oppose the gods.
He calls them deceitful sinners and declares the transformation to be the fruit of their laughter. The jest made at a sage's humiliation gathers the force of his tapasya and becomes a destiny extending far beyond the swayamvara hall.
Narada wants the punishment to stand as warning so that no one will dare laugh again. Yet even this furious sentence will be drawn into Hari's larger design. The curse is already moving toward the future enemies whose defeat will require the Lord's human birth.
The ganas' laughter dies as Narada's curse clothes their future in the bodies of rakshasas.
Read the passage from the Manas
होहु निसाचर जाइ तुम्ह कपटी पापी दोउ। हँसेहु हमहि सो लेहु फल बहुरि हँसेहु मुनि कोउ।।135।।
Become rakshasas, both of you, deceitful sinners that you are. You laughed at me; now reap the fruit of that. Let no one dare laugh again.