Curse on King Pandu

Mahabharata Adiparva Sambhavaparva section 117-119

Sri Sadgurbhyoh namah

King Pandu was living and roaming in the forest with his two wives. Once while he was on a hunting mission, he saw a male deer and a female deer together, indulging in sexual act. Pandu shoots an arrow on the male deer, thus injuring it mortally.

The male deer is actually a muni in the form of deer. Its desire is not satisfied before it met its death at the hands of Pandu. The mortally wounded deer starts reprimanding Pandu for shooting an arrow at them. Pandu replies "Killing a deer while hunting is not a sin, why are you reprimanding me". The deer agrees that hunting is not a sin , but no human who knows the pleasures of the world , however cruel he is , will kill any creature that is engaged in such an act.

and the muni in the form of deer curses the King Pandu , "Since you have denied me the pleasures of the flesh, you shall be denied the same. As soon as you try to unite with any woman, you shall die".

My Commentary:

There is a limit to cruelty. People should realise that there is no difference between animals and humans. The four functionalities Ahara(food), Nidra(sleep), Bhaya (Fear of survival), and Maidhuna(reproductory function) are same for all creatures of the world. What distinguishes a human being from animal is the sharp Buddhi (intellect) alone. A person who knows that there is similarity between him and animals in most respects, will respect the dignity of animals also.

It is not that a human being's right to pleasure is higher than an animals' right to pleasure.

Pandu for sometime refrains from having sex with his wives, but during a fateful day he approaches his second wife madri, and meets his death.

Hari OM