Curse (Conv. & Letters)

Expressions researched:
"curse" |"cursed" |"curses" |"cursing"

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Lord Caitanya Play Told to Tamala Krsna -- August 4, 1969, Los Angeles:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Also there is a story in the Bhāgavatam about the girls; they were offering to Lord Śiva.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is another feature of Lord Caitanya. He taught in that instruction that there is no need of worshiping demigods. The incident is that in India the unmarried girls, they are encouraged to worship Lord Śiva especially in the month of Vaiśākha, March-April. And they will go to the Ganges side and prepare Śivaliṅga, and they'll... That means Śiva will be pleased upon them to offer a husband like Lord Śiva. Śiva is very peaceful and very great devotee and most powerful at the same time. So that is the ideal husband. So they brought worshipable paraphernalia for worshiping Śiva on the bank of the Ganges, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as naughty boy, approached them. "Oh, my dear sister, what you are doing? Oh, you have brought so many nice things. Give it to Me, and Lord Śiva will be very much pleased. Oh, you are worshiping Durga? She is My maidservant and Lord Śiva is a great devotee of Me. So you please offer Me all these things; they will be satisfied. You don't require to offer separately." By this, He wanted to instruct that worshiping the Supreme Lord is the appeasement of other demigods. You don't require to appease them separately. This instruction. Then some girls will hesitate. Then He will curse them that "You'll be married with an old man having seven children by his former wife." So they will be afraid, "Oh, maybe this boy is cursing..." Then out of fear they'll offer. Then He said, "Oh, you'll have a very nice young husband and you'll have seven children by him." In this way it was going on.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- May 4, 1972, Mexico:

Prabhupāda: Better than in this way, that just like here also on this planet, those who are richer section, they particularly do not care to know what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They're proud, puffed-up for material opulence. "Ah, what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Let us enjoy drink." That is their position. So it is a curse for them. Their richness is a curse for them, that they cannot adore such a nice movement. The middle class section, they are being attracted. Similarly, the demigods, they have got very, very high standard of life, duration of life, beauty, opulence, facilities, so generally they forget. Not forget; they are servant. Just like government servant does not mean a devotee. So they are devotee, officially devotee. They, they offer their obeisances to Kṛṣṇa. (Sanskrit), worship by Lord Siva or Brahma, but their devotion is conditional because they're posted in such high post, so they may remain in their post.

Morning Walk -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: These people will not be. You'll have to educate the people, and they'll vote you to the senators, president, and then your country will be nice. Just like by Kurukṣetra, Kṛṣṇa smashed all Duryodhana and company, and He posted Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja. That is the Kṛṣṇa's politics. He wanted to smash all these demons and have His own men posted on the royal throne. When Kali could not penetrate into the daily behavior of the people, he planned killing of Parīkṣit Maharaja. So, one Kali brāhmaṇa cursed him to death, for no fault practically. Therefore the brāhmaṇas of this age, they are condemned. The so-called caste brāhmaṇas, they're condemned. That is lamented by the father of the boy who cursed Parīkṣit Maharaja. (japa) (end)

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Conversation with Sridhara Maharaja -- June 27, 1973, Navadvipa:

Prabhupāda: Advaitācārya.

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: Advaitācārya. On the other side. and this side, sometimes revolving. The other day, I told a gentlemen that Śiva is rather the leader of the opposition party.

Prabhupāda: Yes, in Dakṣa-yajña, that is the curse.

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: In Dakṣa-yajña and in many a place, many demons is encouraged by him. We find.

Prabhupāda: But when Pracetās, Pracetās, they met Śiva...

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: That, that is that Śiva, devotee Śiva.

Prabhupāda: Oh, they...

Morning Walk -- December 10, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Yes. So this Hiraṇyakaśipu's mother, when she understood that his son should be so rogue and then, when she was informed that "After all, your sons will be killed by God," she was very satisfied. "Oh, then it is all right. Never mind." Because she knew, killing by God means he's going to Vaikuṇṭha. Just like cursed by Nārada Muni, Yamala-Arjuna, they saw Kṛṣṇa. By cursing of Nārada, although for some time they had to remain as tree, but still they got the opportunity of seeing Kṛṣṇa.

Hṛdayānanda: Dāmodara.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Dāmodara.

Devotee: Everybody is concerned with peace. Do people like Guruji, because they're such rascals...

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Morning Walk -- December 21, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. Not necessarily. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna, ārto arthārthī (BG 7.16). When one is distressed he remembers God, if he is pious. If he is not pious...

Guest (1): Then he won't remember. Then he will curse him. Then he will curse.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (1): That is correct. But even a pious man in prosperity, he doesn't think of God so much.

Prabhupāda: If he is pious, then in his distress, he will remember God.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk Through the BBT Warehouse -- February 10, 1975, Los Angeles:

Paramahaṁsa: Just like Nārada Muni got that curse from Lord Brahmā.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Not Lord Brahmā, by Dakṣarāja, that "You cannot stay anywhere more than three minutes."

Paramahaṁsa: He is still doing that? Nārada Muni?

Prabhupāda: Yes. His business is preaching. So we have to become, every one of us, disciple of Nārada Muni. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) ...American people are spending, and it is going to the American people, not outside. So it is not bad idea, distribution of money. Therefore America is so opulent. Nobody's miserly. Everyone is spending. Therefore the benefit is distributed. I have got money, I am spending, so benefit is distributed.

Meeting with GBC -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur:

Satsvarūpa: So the question that Mahendra asked was... (break)

Prabhupāda: ...He was converting all his sons to be sannyāsīs. So he cursed him that: "You cannot stay anywhere more than three minutes." That's it.

Brāhmaṇana: Prabhupāda, you also show that example.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Brahmānanda: You're also showing that example.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Although there is no restriction, still I do not stay more than three weeks even.

Room Conversation with Dr. John Mize -- June 23, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like Jaya-Vijaya. They committed offense. They did not allow the four Kumāras to enter. That was their fault. And the Kumāras became very sorry. Then they cursed him that "You are not fit to remain in this place." So we sometimes commit mistake. That is also misuse of independence. Or we are prone to fall down because we are small. Just like small fragment of fire. Although it is fire, it is prone to be extinguished. The big fire does not extinguish. So Kṛṣṇa is the big fire, and we are part and parcel, sparks, very small. So within the fire there are sparks, "Fut, Fut!" There are so many. But if the sparks fall down, then it is extinguished. It is like that. The fall down means material world, there are three different grades: the tamo-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, and sattva-guṇa. If the... Just like the spark falls down. If it falls down on dry grass, the grass becomes ablazed. So the fiery quality is still maintained, although it is fall down.

Morning Walk -- June 30, 1975, Denver:

Prabhupāda: Nārada Muni was cursed, accepted one curse. And Dakṣa-rāja said that "I curse you that you will stay anywhere." So he said, "Yes, that is very good for me." (laughs) He could curse, counter, but he accepted, "Yes, it is a very good curse. I shall not stay anywhere." "You have spoiled my children to become mendicant, go back to home, back to Godhead. They did not enjoy this material world. You are so heinous," like that. Our students' parents, they are also thinking, "What is this nonsense, no meat-eating, no illicit sex? The enjoyment of life, everything is spoiled. They are becoming sannyāsī." So they are cursing me.

Room Conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Wax, Writer and Editing Manager of Playboy Magazine -- July 5, 1975, Chicago:

Prabhupāda: Yes, son should be so nicely educated that he can teach his mother also. That is nice. Some of the parents of my disciples, they come to congratulate, give me thanks. And some of them to curse me (laughter), that "You have spoiled our children." (laughing) Brahmānanda's mother is very angry. (laughter)

Mrs. Wax: She's very angry.

Brahmānanda: She has given myself and also my brother.

Mrs. Wax: Oh, your brother too.

Brahmānanda: Yes.

Room Conversation after Press Conference -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:

Brahmānanda: Someone was telling me that there have been many instances that when women are being taken to the hospital to give birth to their children—they're in the ambulance, and they are experiencing the pains—that they are cursing their husbands, "Why you have given me this pain?"

Prabhupāda: Yes, because birth pain is very severe.

Brahmānanda: They vow never to have sex again at that time. But...

Prabhupāda: (laughs) That śloka I was... Tṛpyanti neha kṛpanā bahu-duḥkha-bhājaḥ (SB 7.9.45). To... The sex life and the aftereffects are full of miserable condition, so once they have sex life, they become, woman becomes pregnant, and the painful conditions are passed. But still, he or she is not satisfied, again takes the same thing, entailed by so many sufferings. Tṛpyanti neha kṛpana.

Morning Walk -- December 14, 1975, New Delhi:

Prabhupāda: No, no, that is collection of food. The trees also do that. They are called pāda-pa. Pāda-pa means they drink water by the legs. You drink water by the mouth and they drink water by the legs. Pāda-pa. Just like the, what is called? Bats. They pass stool through the mouth. Is it not? You do not know this? Yes. (laughter) You'll find the bats, they are hanging down the head, and they're passing stool. Sometimes man also does so, when there is strangulation. That is very dangerous disease. What is called? Intestine strangulation. Then passing stool through the mouth. In Bengal sometimes they curse, "You'll pass stool through the mouth!" Yes, sometimes they do. Sometimes they eat through the rectum. Do you know that?

Morning Walk -- December 18, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Well, when I say rascal it includes everything. (laughing) In Bengal it is said, "When I curse somebody, 'You die!' then all everything it is included, finished! You die." (Hindi)

bhārata bhūmite manuṣya haila janma yāra

janma sārthaka kari kara para-upakāra

(CC Adi 9.41)

This is Indian birth. To understand the whole Vedic philosophy and to give this knowledge to everyone. That is para-upakāra.

Dr. Patel: (Sanskrit) Then you become mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walks -- January 22-23, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes. There is a story in Bhāgavata that Indra was cursed to become a pig. So after some time there was mismanagement in the heavenly kingdom. Brahmā personally came, "Indra, anyway, you became pig. Now you come with me." "Huh? How can I go? I have got so much responsibility." Then he was killed and took to heaven. So any life, any abominable condition, everyone is thinking, "I am perfect." This is called māyā. Any abominable condition, he is thinking, everyone is thinking, that "I am perfect. I have nothing to advance." This is called māyā. They do not know what is perfection. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (SB 7.5.31). The ideal perfection they do not know. They are trying that "We shall make this pig life adjusted to civilized life."

Morning Walk -- February 19, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: No, they say, "Why you gave me birth?" They say like that.

Sudāmā: Cursing almost. Almost.

Guru-kṛpā: Also the atheistic people sometimes argue, "What does your Kṛṣṇa do for the suffering people?"

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Guru-kṛpā: "What does He do? Why doesn't He come down and help the poor people? They are suffering."

Acyutānanda: I tell them there's...

Guru-kṛpā: "Why doesn't He come and help them?"

Morning Walk -- March 17, 1976, Mayapura:

Yaśodānandana: Prabhupāda, I have heard that previously in India, some paṇḍita says, that when they used to put the jewels on the Deities they used to put some mantra that, when they install the Deity, that "Whoever takes this mantra will never be able to have peace or will die," some curse mantras.

Yaśodānandana: Whoever steals the jewels.

Prabhupāda: Yes. It is possible.

Rādhāvallabha: Even just recently they were laughing at this curse, and they took the jewel from Sītā-devī in their car to go to the museum, and their car crashed on the way.

Pañca-draviḍa: Did they die?

Rādhāvallabha: No, they didn't die. A severe crash, though.

Garden Conversation -- June 14, 1976, Detroit:

Prabhupāda: Did you not say that we have got something; the pleasure derived from all these things, that is very inferior. We have got pleasure of superior quality. Therefore we have been able to give it up. That is the fact. But you have no information of the superior pleasure. Therefore sticking to this inferior pleasure.

Mādhavānanda: In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, when Dakṣa cursed Lord Śiva, he also said that statement that the materialists are always envious of the self-realized souls for their opulence of self-realization.

Prabhupāda: (break) ...nature is the mother. So is that correct or not?

Mādhavānanda: Yes, yes. Mother nature.

Room Conversation -- June 28, 1976, New Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That we will do. Yes.

Rādhāvallabha: This is the story of King Indradyumna, when Agastya Muni cursed him to take birth as an elephant.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Rādhāvallabha: When King Indradyumna was meditating and Agastya Muni came, and so he cursed him to take birth as an elephant.

Prabhupāda: He became an elephant.

Rādhāvallabha: Yes, Gajendra. So the artists want to know if it is okay to show him outside in front of a cottage like that.

Conversation with Prof. Saligram and Dr. Sukla -- July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. It is a common sense. He, later on, he became God, by worshiping Kali, is it not?

Dr. Sukla: He was cursed by Kali.

Prabhupāda: No, he was a big worshiper of Kali. And he was meat-eater also, Ma Kali's prasāda, that unless one eats that prasādam he cannot become a devotee. So this was his position, that he worshiped Kali, and later on by worshiping Kali... His picture is there, mother Kali's embracing. And he also preached yata mata tata pat: "Whatever path you take, accept, that is all right." Is it not? So do you think it is all right? He worshiped Kali and he said yata mata tata pat. You agree to this?

Morning Walk -- August 11, 1976, Tehran:

Prabhupāda: Yes, we see from the life of Bali Mahārāja, how he was put into difficulty. Even his spiritual master cursed him. (break) ...put into test and still he remains in his determination, then he's passed. That is very natural. And there is a word, "acid test"?

Hari-śauri: Yes.

Prabhupāda: For ascertaining real gold, the acid test one has to pass to become real gold.

Nava-yauvana: (break) ...this test depends on one's faith in Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: Faith in Kṛṣṇa? What do you mean by faith?

Hari-śauri: If you want to pass the test, he says, does that depend on one's faith?

Prabhupāda: What does that faith mean?

Evening Darsana -- December 3, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: The modern scientists, their first business is to deny that Supreme. That is modern. It is a curse for the scientist if they talk of God. Amongst the scientists this is an etiquette, not to talk of God. Everything science. Means everything nonsense, passing on as scientist. Do you believe this?

Devotee: Pardon me?

Prabhupāda: The scientists' position denying God, do you think?

Mahāṁśa: It's always changing. They simply...

Morning Walk -- December 29, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: They cannot believe that other than this method, there can be civilization. This hoggish civilization is real civilization. To become like hog. That is real civilization. And to give up this process, thinking of soul, elevation of the soul, going back to Godhead, simply imagination, brainwashing. How they can understand? Mām aprāpya nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra vartmani (BG 9.3). Who can understand this? (Hindi) to return (Hindi) to the cycle of birth and death. You believe that. (Hindi) If you do not in this life achieve the sense of spiritual consciousness then you'll have to go back to the cycle of birth and death. Who will understand this philosophy? Mostly they do not know what is the cycle of birth and death, and what to speak of understanding God. This is the position. This is suar (pig) position. A suar cannot understand. The men have become like that. In the name of so-called civilization. Can a suar understand this philosophy? A man cannot understand. And what is the difference between him and the suar? Suar (Hindi) There is a narration, Brahmā came, and Indra became, by the curse of Bṛhaspati, became a suar. So he was living in the forest as suar.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Throughout His life. That means genuine Supreme Lord. Before His birth.

Dr. Patel: Before, yes. And after, He was cursed (indistinct).

Prabhupāda: Śiśupāla was His cousin-brother.

Dr. Patel: Cousin-brother. (Sanskrit) If you consider that, He rose against all odds. Greater the opposition, better you become.

Prabhupāda: Samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu (BG 9.29). God must be equal to everyone.

Dr. Patel: You are right. With that extreme faith, Jesus took to the cross. Huh? (break)

Prabhupāda: That is the greatness of the movement. (break)

Room Conversation With Artists and About BTG -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yayāti.

Rāmeśvara: ...how he was cursed to lose his youthfulness and so on.

Prabhupāda: Śukrācārya.

Rāmeśvara: This first sketch shows Śiva and Pārvatī are passing on the road. These women were bathing, and they are running to cover themselves. And this is the beginning of the fight between the women over the clothing, and Śukrācārya's daughter was thrown into a well.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation With Artists and About BTG -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Rāmeśvara: Then because of that, Yayāti was cursed, because later on, the woman that threw her into the well, he, she became like a mistress.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They were friends. Then they became rivals. Hm. So that's all right.

Rāmeśvara: Then this is the painting showing Śukrācārya and his daughter, and they're cursing Mahārāja Yayāti. What's happening here is that...

Prabhupāda: No, Śukrācārya's cloth is why long? So?

Rāmeśvara: Too long.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation With Artists and About BTG -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: No, no.

Rāmeśvara: It is like he's being transformed.

Prabhupāda: After cursing, the body was that, but not before.

Rāmeśvara: This is like artist's license. He has just cursed him, and now his body is changing. But we wanted to show it all at the same time so that they could get the idea.

Prabhupāda: That's all right(?).

Rāmeśvara: And they have shown this taking place in the courtyard, in a courtyard of Śukrācārya's residence.

Prabhupāda: This...

Room Conversation With Artists and About BTG -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Rāmeśvara: Now, there is this other question about which hand... What was his question?

Parīkṣit: Would he be cursing with the right or left hand.

Rāmeśvara: What is the point?

Prabhupāda: Right or left hand, what problem?

Muralīdhara: When they curse someone, is there a certain...

Prabhupāda: No. Right hand is all right.

Room Conversation -- October 13, 1977, Vrndavana:

Kīrtanānanda: (laughter) They're wonderful, Prabhupāda.

Rāmeśvara: This one is Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in the cowshed of Nanda Mahārāja for the name-giving ceremony. And Gargamuni is there. This one is Nārada Muni cursing the two demigods for sporting naked and drinking. This is Kṛṣṇa killing the giant witch Pūtanā. Kṛṣṇa is very small on her chest.

Hari-śauri: These are the supermost.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The artists have become very expert, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Kīrtanānanda: Wonderful.

Rāmeśvara: This one I think you have seen. Kṛṣṇa stealing butter.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This has been given to the Shah of Iran, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Hari-śauri: To hang in their palace.

Prabhupāda: The Shah of Iran (Bengali) some connection (Bengali) Parivrājakācārya (Bengali)...

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 17 January, 1968:

Krishna can be known by His Mercy only as you will find in the text of the Kumaras. One thing you will mark that the Kumaras considered themselves sinful after cursing the 2 doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, and this was realized when they are fully conscious of the Supreme Lord. I have sent you one tape today. You will find the explanation there, and enjoy it. Yes, if it is possible to send carbon copies of Srimad-Bhagavatam tapes to other centers; please do so. Also, please send a copy to Gaurasundara of Bhagavatam tapes, and also lectures if possible, c/o of this address. Hope you are well.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Prthu Putra -- Mayapur 24 January, 1976:

You can hold similar such programs in every big city and you will always get a nice reception. This is really preaching and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu will surely be pleased with you and bless you. That you cannot stay anywhere very long due to the rules of your visa is a blessing in disguise. It is very good for a sannyasi. Narada Muni was similarly cursed by Daksa that he could not stay anywhere very long and this only increases his preaching. So you also increase your preaching and be more merciful to a greater number of persons.