Question
Manjughosha, the apsara, remained 57 years, 9 months, and 3 days with Medhavi. She asked the wise man to let her go, but he didn’t leave her. However, when he realized what had happened, he cursed Manjughosha. Why did Medhavi blame her instead of taking responsibility for his own actions?
Answer
Apsaras are intelligent and highly advanced and cultured living beings like the Devas.
A less intelligent person, for instance a child, may be somewhat excused if he does something wrong because he doesn’t have the intelligence to determine what is right and what is wrong. Apsaras are definitely not this type of beings.
Manjughosa knew perfectly who Medhavi was, so she knew the consequences that disturbing him could cause. She was aware that her beauty could disturb the Rishi, that’s why she went to reside far away from him.
This is an important teaching for our lady devotees, who should dress with modesty to avoid disturbing men who are aiming for renunciation. We sometimes see that ladies dress themselves in a totally unacceptable manner.
The truth of the story is that it was not Medhavi who went looking for her. Manjughosa was the one who went after him.
She first disturbed the Rishi, and then she made him fall down by making him depend on her presence and beauty. Later, she ended up abandoning him. That was disgraceful behavior.
Therefore, Manjughosa was the first responsible for what happened, and she was rightly cursed to become an evil spirit.
However, Medhavi also paid for his weakness – but not for having wanted it in the first place.
This is a section of the book “A Sidelong Glance”.
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