Shloka 36
Pūru-vaṁśa, Duṣmanta–Śakuntalā, and the Rise of Mahārāja Bharata
अन्तर्वत्न्यां भ्रातृपत्न्यां मैथुनाय बृहस्पति: । प्रवृत्तो वारितो गर्भं शप्त्वा वीर्यमुपासृजत् ॥ ३६ ॥
antarvatnyāṁ bhrātṛ-patnyāṁ maithunāya bṛhaspatiḥ pravṛtto vārito garbhaṁ śaptvā vīryam upāsṛjat
When the demigod named Bṛhaspati was attracted by his brother’s wife, Mamatā, who at that time was pregnant, he desired to have sexual relations with her. The son within her womb forbade this, but Bṛhaspati cursed him and forcibly discharged semen into the womb of Mamatā.
The sex impulse is so strong in this material world that even Bṛhaspati, who is supposed to be the priest of the demigods and a very learned scholar, wanted to have a sexual relationship with his brother’s pregnant wife. This can happen even in the society of the higher demigods, so what to speak of human society? The sex impulse is so strong that it can agitate even a learned personality like Bṛhaspati.
FAQs
This verse shows that even a revered figure can fall under lust, leading to harmful actions like violating dharma and producing destructive reactions (such as cursing an innocent embryo).
When restrained from an immoral act, he reacted with anger and frustration, and in that disturbed state he cursed the garbha—illustrating how uncontrolled desire can quickly turn into cruelty and sin.
It warns to restrain desire early, accept correction humbly, and avoid retaliatory anger—because impulsive actions can harm innocents and create lasting karmic consequences.