King Sulabh was the ruler of the island of Jambudwip. He and his wife Subhadra worshipped Ganesha, devotedly. Once, a poor Brahmin arrived at King Sulabh’s palace and begged the king to give him something to eat. But the king turned down the hungry and needy Brahmin’s request. He further asked the Brahmin to look for a job, as he seemed capable of earning his own living. The humiliated Brahmin got very angry and cursed King Sulabh, “You have failed to fulfil the responsibilities of a king; may you be born as an ox!” The queen was furious to hear the Brahmin curse her husband. So, she cursed him back, “You senseless Brahmin; may you be born as a donkey!” Now the Brahmin turned his fury at the queen and cursed her, too. “May you be born as a beggar!” he shouted. Thus the king, the queen and the Brahmin were reborn as an ox, a beggar and a donkey, respectively.
The Brahmin’s Curse
