Lomasa Curses Bhushundi to Become the Crow He Already Resembles
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 107
Doha 113 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi's mind races through questions of moral consequence. Can one devoted to everyone's welfare remain sorrowful, or one possessing the philosopher's stone remain poor? Can hatred be fearless, lust stainless, wicked company wise, or slander of Hari happy?
No gain equals Hari-bhakti, praised by Veda, saint, and Purana. No loss equals receiving a human body without worshipping Rama. No sin equals slander, and no dharma equals compassion. Yet Bhushundi uses even luminous conclusions to resist the sage rather than listen humbly.
Again he insists upon saguna truth. Lomasa's anger bursts forth: you reject the highest instruction, answer every word, and distrust truth like a crow wary of all. Become a crow at once. Bhushundi accepts the curse without fear or dejection. His unbroken preference for Rama remains, but the form of his argumentative mind is now made visible in feathers.
A storm of sacred reasoning ends in one sharp word, and the disputing seeker receives the black wings of a crow.
Read the passage from the Manas
कबहुँ कि दुख सब कर हित ताकें। तेहि कि दरिद्र परस मनि जाकें।। परद्रोही की होहिं निसंका। कामी पुनि कि रहहिं अकलंका।। बंस कि रह द्विज अनहित कीन्हें। कर्म कि होहिं स्वरूपहि चीन्हें।। काहू सुमति कि खल सँग जामी। सुभ गति पाव कि परत्रिय गामी।। भव कि परहिं परमात्मा बिंदक। सुखी कि होहिं कबहुँ हरिनिंदक।। राजु कि रहइ नीति बिनु जानें। अघ कि रहहिं हरिचरित बखानें।। पावन जस कि पुन्य बिनु होई। बिनु अघ अजस कि पावइ कोई।। लाभु कि किछु हरि भगति समाना। जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संत पुराना।। हानि कि जग एहि सम किछु भाई। भजिअ न रामहि नर तनु पाई।। अघ कि पिसुनता सम कछु आना। धर्म कि दया सरिस हरिजाना।। एहि बिधि अमिति जुगुति मन गुनऊँ। मुनि उपदेस न सादर सुनऊँ।। पुनि पुनि सगुन पच्छ मैं रोपा। तब मुनि बोलेउ बचन सकोपा।। मूढ़ परम सिख देउँ न मानसि। उत्तर प्रतिउत्तर बहु आनसि।। सत्य बचन बिस्वास न करही। बायस इव सबही ते डरही।। सठ स्वपच्छ तब हृदयँ बिसाला। सपदि होहि पच्छी चंडाला।। लीन्ह श्राप मैं सीस चढ़ाई। नहिं कछु भय न दीनता आई।।
Can there ever be sorrow for one who seeks the welfare of all? Can one who possesses the philosopher's stone ever be poor? Can one who harms others ever be free from fear? Can a lustful person ever remain untainted? Can a lineage survive after harming brahmins? Can actions bear fruit once one has realized the Self? Can anyone gain good sense by associating with the wicked? Can one who pursues another's wife attain a blessed state? Can those who have known the Paramatma ever fall back into worldly existence? Can those who slander Hari ever find happiness? Can a kingdom endure without righteous governance? Can sins remain after narrating Hari's deeds? Can sacred fame arise without merit? Can anyone earn infamy without sin? Is there any gain equal to devotion to Hari, which the Vedas, saints, and Puranas all celebrate? Is there any loss in this world, O brother, equal to this: that one does not worship Rama despite obtaining a human body? Is there any sin equal to slander? Is there any dharma equal to compassion, O knower of Hari? Thus I pondered countless arguments in my mind, but did not respectfully heed the sage's instruction. Again and again I argued for the path of attributes. Then the sage spoke in anger: 'O fool, you do not accept the supreme teaching I give, but bring forth many replies and objections.' 'You do not believe truthful words, and like a crow, you fear everyone.' 'O fool, since your heart is so broad in defending your own position, immediately become a bird, an outcaste among them!' I accepted the curse upon my head. No fear or humility arose in me.