Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 353
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
प्रतीपा भवतां जिह्दा भवित्रीति भृगूद्गह | भगुकुलभूषण! यह सुनकर अग्निदेव क्रोधसे विह्लल हो उठे और उन्होंने समस्त हाथियोंको शाप देते हुए कहा--तुमलोगोंकी जिह्ला उलटी हो जायगी”
pratīpā bhavatāṃ jihvā bhavitrīti bhṛgūdgaha | bhṛgukulabhūṣaṇa! etac chrutvā agnidevaḥ krodhena vihvalaḥ samabhavat, sa sarvān hastinaḥ śapann uvāca—yūyaṃ jihvā-viparyastā bhaviṣyatha |
Wika ni Bhishma: “O pinakadakila sa mga Bhrigu, ‘ang inyong mga dila ay mababaligtad.’” Nang marinig ito, si Agni ay napuno ng poot at nagbitiw ng sumpa sa lahat ng elepante, na nagsasabing: “Mababaligtad ang inyong mga dila.” Itinatampok ng talatang ito na ang galit na hindi napipigil—kahit sa isang diyos—ay nagbubunga ng malawak na kapinsalaan; at ang sumpa ay nagsisilbing babalang moral tungkol sa kapangyarihan ng pananalita at panganib ng walang pinipiling pagganti.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode underscores the ethical danger of anger and the potency of speech: a wrathful utterance can become a binding curse with wide-reaching effects. It cautions against indiscriminate punishment and urges restraint, especially for those with authority or spiritual power.
Bhishma recounts that Agni, provoked and overwhelmed by anger, curses all elephants, declaring that their tongues will become inverted. The narration frames the curse as a consequential act arising from emotional agitation.