There was neither ant food there nor the Brahman cook. The king returned in deep though and related the whole story to the Brahmans; frantic with fear, he threw himself upon the ground.

“Even though, O king, you are guiltless, what is destined must come to pass. A Brahman’s curse is very dreadful and no amount of effort can avert it!”

So saying, all the Brahmans departed. When the people of the city heard the news, they were much perturbed and began to blame Providence, who had began upon a swan and made it a cow.

The demon (Kalaketu) conveyed the priest to his house and told the ascetic all that be had done. That wretch dispatched letters to every quarter, and a host of hostile princes equipped their troops and rushed in to make an assault -

-and beating their kettledrums, besieged the city. Day after day were battles of various kinds fought, and all the king’s warriors performed valiant feats and were slain. The king, too, and his brother bit the dust.

Not one of Satyaketu’s family escapted, for how could a curse be untrue? After conquering the foe and refounding the city all the chiefs returned to their own capitals, crowned with victory and fame.

Listen, O Bharadvaja! Whoever incurs God’s displeasure, for him a grain of dust is like Mount Meru, a father like Yama (the god of death) and a rope like a snake.