SB 9.9.33
TEXT 33
- evaṁ karuṇa-bhāṣiṇyā
- vilapantyā anāthavat
- vyāghraḥ paśum ivākhādat
- saudāsaḥ śāpa-mohitaḥ
SYNONYMS
evam — in this way; karuṇa-bhāṣiṇyāḥ — while the brāhmaṇa's wife was speaking very pitiably; vilapantyāḥ — lamenting severely; anātha-vat — exactly like a woman who has no protector; vyāghraḥ — a tiger; paśum — prey animal; iva — like; akhādat — ate up; saudāsaḥ — King Saudāsa; śāpa — by the curse; mohitaḥ — because of being condemned.
TRANSLATION
Being condemned by the curse of Vasiṣṭha, King Saudāsa devoured the brāhmaṇa, exactly as a tiger eats its prey. Even though the brāhmaṇa's wife spoke so pitiably, Saudāsa was unmoved by her lamentation.
PURPORT
This is an example of destiny. King Saudāsa was condemned by the curse of Vasiṣṭha, and therefore even though he was well qualified he could not restrain himself from becoming a tigerlike Rākṣasa, for this was his destiny. Tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukham (SB 1.5.18). As one is put into distress by destiny, destiny can also put one in a happy situation. Destiny is extremely strong, but one can change destiny if one comes to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhājām (BS 5.54).