On the banks of the sacred Tamasa river, Devadatta, yearning for a son, erected a splendid pavilion. He invited Brahmins learned in the Vedas, skilled in sacrificial rites, to perform the auspicious putreshti sacrifice. With careful devotion, he constructed the altar, installed the sacred fire, and entrusted the ritual to the best of Brahmins, who performed it according to the prescribed method. Devadatta appointed Suhotra, the foremost sage, as the Brahma priest; Yajnavalkya as the Adhvaryu; and Brihaspati as the Hotar. He named Paila as the Prastotar, Gobhila as the Udgatar, and gathered other eminent sages as members of the assembly, generously gifting them wealth in accordance with tradition. During the sacrifice, the Udgatar, renowned among singers of the Sama Veda, sang the Rathantara hymn, composed of seven notes, with perfect intonation. Yet, as he sang, his voice faltered repeatedly due to the strain of breath. Devadatta, frustrated, turned to Gobhila and rebuked him: "You are a fool, O foremost of sages! Because of you, the intonation has been spoiled in this ritual performed for the desire of a son." Gobhila, deeply angered by the accusation, retorted, "Your son will be a fool, deceitful, and devoid of speech." He explained, "In all living bodies, the process of inhalation and exhalation is very difficult to control; I am not at fault in this matter of intonation, O wise one." Devadatta, terrified by the curse, spoke to Gobhila in great distress: "O foremost of Brahmins, why are you angry with me without cause, when I am blameless? Sages who are free from anger always bring happiness. For such a minor fault, why have you cursed me? I am childless and already afflicted; now you have caused me further suffering." He lamented, "Those who know the Vedas say that having no son is better than having a foolish son; yet, a foolish brāhmaṇa is always to be condemned by all. Like an animal or a śūdra, he is unfit for all rites; O best of twice-born, what can I do with a foolish son here? A foolish brāhmaṇa is just like a śūdra—there is no doubt of this; he is not worthy of worship or gifts, and is to be censured in all rites. A brāhmaṇa living in a land without Vedic knowledge should be regarded by the king as liable to pay taxes, just like a śūdra. A foolish brāhmaṇa should not be seated in rituals for ancestors or gods by one who desires results. By the king, he should be considered equal to a śūdra and not employed in any rites; a brāhmaṇa without Vedic knowledge should be made a cultivator. Śrāddha should be performed without a brāhmaṇa, using only a blade of kuśa grass, rather than with a foolish brāhmaṇa. Food beyond what is necessary should not be given to an unlearned person; the giver attains hell, especially the receiver. Fie on the kingdom of that king in whose land ignorant brāhmaṇas are honored with gifts and respect. Where there is not even the slightest distinction in seating, worship, or giving between the foolish and the learned, the wise must discern the difference. Where the foolish are excessively proud through gifts and honors, a learned person should never dwell in such a land. The wealth of the wicked serves only to benefit the unworthy; just as the bhallātaka tree, though rich in fruit, is enjoyed only by crows. A brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas, after eating food, studies the Vedas; his ancestors rejoice in heaven, delighted indeed." Devadatta pleaded, "O best knower of the Vedas, you have freed me from the bondage of Gobhila; in this world, having a foolish son is more blameworthy than death. Have mercy, O greatly fortunate one, regarding the favor of the curse; you are able to uplift the distressed—I fall at your feet." Lomaśa, the narrator, described how Devadatta, filled with sorrow and tears, fell at Gobhila's feet, praising him and begging for relief. Seeing Devadatta so dejected, Gobhila was moved; for great angers, though intense, are but momentary, while sinful wrath endures an age. Just as water, naturally cool, becomes hot by contact with fire and quickly cools again when the fire is removed, so too did Gobhila's anger subside. Out of compassion, Gobhila said to the distressed Devadatta, "Your son, though he becomes foolish, will also become wise." Receiving this boon, Devadatta rejoiced. He completed the ritual, dismissing the Brahmins according to proper procedure. After some time, his beautiful and virtuous wife conceived. At the proper moment, she, like Rohini, bore a child. Devadatta performed all the rites of conception and related ceremonies as tradition prescribed, including the ritual for producing a male child and acts of adornment. He also performed the ceremony of parting the hair as prescribed in the Vedas, joyfully gave gifts, and considered the ritual to have borne fruit. On an auspicious day, Rohini gave birth to a son, possessing Rohini's qualities. At a highly favorable time and ascendant, Devadatta performed the birth rites. Upon seeing his son, he performed the naming ceremony, bestowing the name 'Utathya' in accordance with ancient tradition. In the eighth year, on an auspicious day and occasion, Devadatta performed the sacred thread ceremony for Utathya as prescribed. The teacher instructed the boy in the Vedas as he observed the vow, but Utathya did not recite, remaining silent and bewildered. Though his father repeatedly taught him, the stubborn boy did not grasp the lessons; he stood as if dull-witted, and his father grieved for him.