Now, a command was given: together with her son, she was to depart at once and be reborn among the spirits. Driven by hunger and possessed of a dreadful voice, she wailed terribly, her cries echoing through the air as her children clustered around her, sharing in her suffering. Their wandering led them to a wild forest on the banks of the sacred Narmada, a place haunted by fierce demons. There, among the tangled roots and shadows, dwelt one tormented by sorrow, a being whose actions ran counter to the ways of the world. Beneath the spreading branches of a banyan tree stood a brahma-rakshasa, his form blazing with rage. He called out, his voice trembling with pain and anger, “By what sin, truly, have such as these been born to me?” After hearing the tale of their misfortune, he spoke again, “Out of great affection for my friend, you must tell me all of this. For one who commits a sinful act must endure torment for ten thousand ages. Therefore, let the wise never deceive their friends.” At this, the sage Narada, pleased by the honesty and humility before him, spoke words of righteousness. “I am known as Somadatta, ever devoted to the path of dharma. But through my own folly—by showing indifference to my teacher—I have fallen to this wretched state. Worse still, in my hunger and delusion, I have devoured Brahmins by the hundreds and thousands. He who constantly causes fear in the world and clings to the eating of flesh—such suffering as I now endure has taught me the folly of these acts. O illustrious one, let none follow this path.” Turning to his companion, he said, “In the same way, tell me everything, Sarave, for I am filled with curiosity.” Sarave replied, “I have come; I will tell you—listen attentively, O Sarave. He who expounds the scriptures, who teaches righteousness, and instructs in the science of ethics; he who guides in vows, protects from fear, and gives food; he who initiates, who performs consecrations and conducts the sacraments—such are the gurus, worthy of honor and reverent salutation. All these, O Sarave, are indeed equal. Tell me this properly.” “To narrate the greatness of the guru, to listen to it, and to give it approval—these too are always worthy of equal honor; there is no doubt. Those who teach the Vedas, those who explain the mantras, and the learned who recite the Purāṇas with righteousness—all are to be revered. The acts of worshipping the gods and the fruits that arise from worshipping the deities, these are all described in the Purāṇas, which, O king, are the very essence of the meanings of all the Vedas.” “The one who strives to cross the ocean of worldly existence will find that all dharmas are declared in the Purāṇas, O king. The Purāṇas, O wise one, bring happiness in this world and the next. Through them, the mind is purified, and one becomes ever devoted to righteousness. Among the devotees of Vishnu, discernment toward the path of righteousness arises. Those who seek the fruits of righteousness, wealth, pleasure, or liberation—all find guidance here.” “As for myself,” Somadatta confessed, “I am the one who, out of pride, spoke against the all-knowing sage Gautama. Once, I went to perform worship of the Supreme Lord. Gautama, tranquil and wise, was a treasury of brilliance. The god Shiva, teacher of the entire universe, is the One I worshipped. Yet whoever, whether knowingly or unknowingly, shows disrespect to the teacher…” Thus, the story unfolded—a tale of error, repentance, and the supreme importance of honoring the teacher, the scriptures, and the path of righteousness.