Marvellous Mahābhārata Morals - XI

Role of blessings and curses

When an individual is so pleased with another individual that out of natural, deep affection and love, the individual wishes benefit for another individual, then that wish is known as a blessing. Likewise, when an individual is so displeased with another individual that out of natural, deep anger and sorrow, the individual wishes harm for the another individual, then that wish is known as a curse. Both blessing and curse arise out of extremely felt deep emotions and are thus highly potent and effective. The Mahābhārata has innumerable instances, where blessings and curses are either given or received.

Māhābhīśa and Gaṅgā were both cursed in heaven to lead sorrowful lives on earth as Śāṅtanu and Gaṅgā. Bhīśma was blessed by Śāṅtanu to die whenever he wished to die. Bhīśma was also cursed by Ambā to receive death because of her. Riśī Durvāsa blessed Kuntī with a boon whereby she could summon any god and obtain a son. Pāndu was cursed to die whenever he tried to make sexual advances. God Indra blessed Karṇa with the heavenly weapon Indrāstra. Gāndhārī cursed Śrī Kṛṣṇa that he would not be able to do anything when his entire Yādava clan would die in front of his eyes. There are also many other short stories in the Mahābhārata, where curses and blessings occur. All these incidents point towards the fact that when a person feels deep emotions, and then wishes for something, that wish invariably and ultimately fructifies.