[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c4.1001 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.1001 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.1001 - **Language:** English ### [c4.1001](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.1001) 2) Curse of Vasiṣṭha. Once the Aṣṭavasus were enjoying a picnic with their wives and they happened to go to the āśrama of Vasiṣṭha. One of the wives got enamoured over Nandini, Vasiṣṭha’s beautiful cow and wanted it. The Vasu to please his wife took the cow by force and left the place. When the sage found his cow missing after some time he understood by his divine powers who stole the cow and he cursed the Aṣṭavasus saying that all of them would be born on earth as men. The Aṣṭavasus were greatly worried and approached the sage apologising and craving for pardon. The sage relaxed the curse and declared that their life on earth would be only for a very short time maintaining that the particular Vasu who committed the theft would live for a long time as man. It was this Vasu, Āpa (Dyau) who was born as Bhīṣma. - [Previous: c4.1000](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.1000) - [Next: c4.1002](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.1002) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.1001](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.1001) · Pramāṇa