The snake lived in Brahmapura long ago and there too lived a Brahmin named Kaundinya with a very good son, named Sushil. The snake bit Sushil one day and the boy died. It was a terrible moment when Kaundinya came to know that his son was dead. He fell down unconscious out of grief and shock. As the news spread, many people came to console Kaundinya. Among them was a student named Kapila. He spoke about life and death and how it was necessary to accept that death is a natural thing for all living creatures. “Sorrow comes when we are ignorant,” said Kapila, “Once you understand things, sorrow will reduce with time.” But Kaundinya was so unhappy that he wished to go away into the forest and live there, spending his days in meditation and prayer. But he cursed the snake before he left.
The Brahmin Curses the Snake
