Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.741

c5.741

DHARMAVYĀDHA. Though he was born in the caste of foresters he became a saint by following the path of duty and righteousness. In his previous birth he was a Brahmin. He was a friend of a king who was an adept in archery. Once both went on hunting expedition to the forest. The brahmin sent an arrow at a wild animal but the arrow went and struck a sage who was doing penance under a tree. When the sage was rolling on the arrow he said: “Oh, evil-natured Brāhmaṇa, may you be born as a hunter selling flesh in your next life.” The Brahmin went and apologised to the sage and craved for pardon. Taking pity on him the sage consoled him by saying that though he would be born as such, he would be a great scholar and attain mokṣa by doing his duty without once wavering from it.