CHAPTER XXII
(THE CURSE OF THE BIRDS)
Markandeya said:—Thereupon his comrades the other two Chakravākas said to him:—"We shall be your ministers ever doing you good" (1). Having said "So be it" his mind was engaged in Yoga. After they had entered into this contract Shuchivāk said to them (2). "While deviating from the path of a Yogin and possessed by desire you pray for such a boon, hear what I have got to say in this matter (3). Undoubtedly you will become the king of Kāmpilya and these two will be your ministers" (4). With these words the four ganders imprecated a curse on the other three. And on account of their falling off from Yoga consequent upon their praying for a kingdom they did not converse with those three (5).
Losing their Yoga (acquirements) and having their senses bewildered the cursed ganders prayed to their comrades for relief (6). They were propitiated and Sumanā, as the spokesman of all, communicated to them the following words of grace (7). "Undoubtedly there will be an end of your curse. Freed from this birth you will be again born as men and practise Yoga (8). Swatantra will be able to understand the sound of all animals. By his counsels we have secured the favour of the ancestral manes (9). On account of our dedicating the cow to the ancestral manes after killing we have all acquired knowledge and been practising Yoga (10)." Hearing this only sloka, containing the story of those (seven) men, recited one shall acquire most excellent Yoga (11).
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Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
