Text 33] The Dynasty of Amsuman 29

means miserable life. In this age, so many girls are unmarried and falsely
imagining themselves free, but their life is miserable. Here is an instance
in which a woman felt that without her husband she was nothing but a

dead body.

TEXT 33
ad Seon AAI TAPIA |
SATE: TAPHARATRA TATA: TUTTE: 13311

evam karuna-bhdsinya
vilapantyda andthavat

vyaghrah pasum iwakhadat
sauddsah sdpa-mohitah

evam—in this way; karuna-bhdasinyah—while the brahmana’s wife
was speaking very pitiably; vilapantyadh—lamenting severely;
andtha-vat—exactly like a woman who has no protector; vyéghrah—a
tiger; pasum—prey animal; iwa—like; akhddat—ate up; sauddsah—
King Saudasa; s¢pa—by the curse; mohitah—because of being con-
demned.

TRANSLATION

Being condemned by the curse of Vasistha, King Saudasa de-
voured the brahmana, exactly as a tiger eats its prey. Even though
the brahmana’s wife spoke so pitiably, Saudasa was unmoved by
her lamentation.

PURPORT

This is an example of destiny. King Saudasa was condemned by the
curse of Vasistha, and therefore even though he was well qualified he
could not restrain himself from becoming a tigerlike Raksasa, for this
was his destiny. Tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
(Bhag. 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 Krsna consciousness. Karmani

nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam (Brahma-samhita 5.54).
