As regards the method of escaping the curse of elders, one has to be equally vigilant. When a man behaves badly or rudely towards persons deserving veneration on account of their fullness in wisdom and virtue, he invites on himself the consequences of this denial of the essential ‘man’ in him which is God. Such action brings down a curse as an automatic consequence or as a willed reaction. Do not insult others; do not ridicule others; do not demean them in any manner. If you do, you are defying, distorting and destroying man’s innate Nature, which is Love. In order to make such men recognise the crime committed against oneself and retreat from this unnatural course, the curse is pronounced. Consider the behaviour of King Parikshit which resulted in a curse. He was the Emperor, reputed and respected; he was highly learned; he was an earnest practitioner of spiritual disciplines. Yet, in a fit of anger, he placed around the neck of a hermit who was sunk deep in meditation, a snake that was dead! That was not a pardonable prank. As Emperor, his task was to be an example, a model, an inspiration for his subjects. Punishing him would be an effective method of teaching good conduct to millions. So, Shringi, the hermit’s son, cursed him to die of snakebite at the end of the week. The sage Gautama cursed his wife Ahalya for transgressing the limits imposed by the higher Self on the lower self. Man or woman, each one has to honour the glory of mankind and examine each thought, word and deed on the touchstone of Dharma (righteousness). Or else, one has to encounter a curse. (SSS Vol.16, pp. 110-111)