The Curse Falls Before Thought
Bala Kanda, Doha 173
Doha 173 · Movement 2 of 2
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Fury moves through the brahmin assembly faster than deliberation. The feast offered as honour now appears to be a deliberate attempt to destroy sacred families through the most defiling betrayal.
Without pausing to investigate, they turn upon Pratapbhanu. Foolish king, they pronounce, become a night wanderer. The ruler whose realm had shown no trace of sin is sentenced to the body and nature of a rakshasa.
The curse extends beyond one man. His entire family must share the transformation. Words powered by spiritual austerity leave their mouths in anger, and before truth can be separated from appearance, a dynasty's future is sealed.
One furious sentence crosses the dining hall and clothes a royal house in the night.
Read the passage from the Manas
बोले बिप्र सकोप तब नहिं कछु कीन्ह बिचार। जाइ निसाचर होहु नृप मूढ़ सहित परिवार।।173।।
Then the Brahmins spoke in fury, without a moment of deliberation: "Go, become a night-wanderer, O foolish king, you and your entire family!"