By the mysterious workings of fate, no one knew the secret behind the birth of the remarkable child with ears shaped like those of a cow. When people beheld him, they named him Gokarna. In time, both Gokarna and his brother Dhundhukari grew to manhood. Gokarna became renowned for his learning and wisdom, but Dhundhukari’s path diverged into darkness and vice. Dhundhukari cared nothing for purity or proper conduct. He neglected bathing, consumed impure foods, and shamelessly ate with hands defiled by contact with corpses. He was utterly devoid of self-control, acquiring things through wrongful means and abandoning all sense of propriety. His ways grew ever more abominable: he became a thief, despised by everyone, and even set fire to others’ homes. In his cruelty, he would seize children in play and, without hesitation, throw them into wells. His violence knew no bounds; he carried weapons, oppressed the poor and the blind, and kept company with dogs and outcastes, ever brandishing a noose. Through constant association with prostitutes, Dhundhukari squandered the wealth he had inherited from his ancestors. One day, in a fit of rage, he beat his own parents and took away their household vessels. His father, now destitute and overwhelmed by grief, cried out in anguish, “Such a wicked son who brings only suffering deserves to be killed! Where shall I go? Where can I find peace? Who will relieve my sorrow? I am so wretched that I would rather give up my life than endure this misery!” At this moment, the wise Gokarna came to his father and, with compassion, showed him the path of detachment. He spoke: “This worldly life is insubstantial, full of suffering, and deludes all. Whose son, whose wealth, whose affection truly endures? Even Indra, king of the gods, or a universal monarch, finds no lasting happiness. Only the sage, free from attachment and living in solitude, knows true peace. Abandon ignorance, which binds you in the form of attachment to your offspring; such delusion leads only to hell. This body will one day fall away, leaving everything behind. Go to the forest.” Hearing these words, his father, resolved to depart, asked, “My child, tell me in detail what I should do in the forest. I am trapped in the dark pit of attachment, lame and fallen through my actions. O ocean of compassion, please lift me up from this state.” Gokarna gently instructed him: “Let go of your attachment to this body, made only of bones, flesh, and blood. Give up possessiveness toward wife, children, and others, and recognize that this world is fleeting and perishable. Delight instead in detachment and devotion. Practice true dharma constantly, forsake worldly duties, serve saintly persons, and renounce desire and craving. Quickly abandon thoughts of others’ faults and virtues, and immerse yourself in the nectar of service and sacred stories.” Thus, though compelled by his son’s words, the father left home at the age of sixty, journeyed to the forest with firm resolve, and devoted himself daily to the service of Hari. Through the recitation of the Tenth Canto, he attained the grace of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He then resided in the celestial city, enjoying the splendor of the gods’ gardens, in the palace of Indra crafted by Viśvakarmā himself, surrounded by the prosperity of the three worlds. He was rich in knowledge, wealth, and noble birth, but remained free from pride and arrogance. After the father’s passing, the mother was left alone with Dhundhukari. He, unrestrained in his wickedness, severely beat her, demanding, “Tell me where the wealth is kept, or I will kill you with this stick!” Terrified and grief-stricken for her son, the mother, in the dead of night, threw herself into a well and ended her life. Meanwhile, Gokarna, steadfast in yoga, departed on pilgrimage. He remained unmoved by sorrow or happiness, and regarded no one as friend or enemy. Dhundhukari, on the other hand, stayed at home, surrounded by five courtesans. His mind, deluded by his obsession with them, drove him to ever more cruel deeds. One day, the courtesans, desiring ornaments, pressed him for more. Blinded by lust and heedless of death, Dhundhukari left the house to obtain what they wanted. He gathered wealth from various places and returned, showering the women with fine clothes, ornaments, and many gifts. But when the women saw the growing hoard of wealth, they whispered among themselves at night, “He steals daily; the king will surely arrest him. When the king seizes the wealth, he will kill him. To protect ourselves, why should we not secretly kill him first?” Having resolved thus, they bound Dhundhukari with ropes as he slept, and began to kill him. Despite their efforts, he did not die at once, and they became anxious. They then forced burning coals into his mouth; tormented by the agony of the flames, Dhundhukari finally perished. The women threw his body into a pit and concealed the crime from everyone. When questioned by others, they would say, “He has gone far away; he is dear to us and will return this year, drawn by his greed for wealth.” Thus, it is said, a wise person should never place trust in wicked women; the fool who does so is doomed to suffering. The words of lustful women may sound sweet as nectar and enhance pleasure, but their hearts are sharp as razors—no man is truly dear to them. Having seized his wealth, those promiscuous women, accustomed to many husbands, departed, leaving Dhundhukari to become a great ghost, tormented by his evil deeds. As a ghost, he took on the form of a whirlwind, ceaselessly running in all directions, afflicted by cold and heat, hungry and thirsty, finding no rest or shelter, and crying out in despair, “Alas, fate!” In time, Gokarna heard from the people of his brother’s death. Recognizing his brother’s helpless state, Gokarna performed the Gaya funeral rites for him, and wherever he traveled to holy places, he repeated the rites. After his wanderings, Gokarna returned to his own city. One night, he lay down to sleep in the courtyard of his house, unnoticed by others. There, in the stillness of the night, Dhundhukari, now a restless spirit, revealed himself to his relative Gokarna, appearing in a most terrifying form.