Hunter Recounts His Fall from Brahmana to Shudra
The brahmana, puzzled that a shudra hunter speaks with such authority on dharma, asks how he came to be born in a shudra womb. The hunter reveals that he was once a brahmana — until a single arrow, shot in the heat of a hunt, struck down a rishi and sealed his fate.
The hunter answered.
"O supreme among brahmanas! No brahmana should be crossed. Therefore, hear everything that happened to me in an earlier body.
"I was a brahmana earlier. I studied the Vedas well and was skilled in the Vedangas (the auxiliary sciences of the Vedas). But it is because of my own sins that I have been reduced to my present state.
"There was a king who was my friend, and he was skilled in the use of arms. Because of my association with him, I also became supreme in wielding the bow.
"Once upon a time, the king went out hunting. He was surrounded by his advisers and was with his foremost warriors. Near a hermitage, he killed many deer.
"I also shot a swift and terrible arrow, with a plume that was bent downwards. It struck a rishi.
"The brahmana fell down on the ground and shouted: 'I am innocent. Who has performed this evil deed?'
"Still thinking him to be a deer, I rushed towards him — and suddenly saw the sage. I saw that the rishi had been pierced by my arrow, with a plume that was bent downwards. My mind was troubled to see that I had performed an act that should not be performed.
"I then told the extremely ascetic brahmana, who was dying on the ground: 'I performed this act out of ignorance. Please pardon me. O brahmana! I should be forgiven.'
"But the rishi was overcome with anger. He replied in these words: 'O cruel one! O brahmana! You will be born as a hunter and will be born from a shudra womb.'" Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 502