80 - The Reason for not viewing the moon on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada 

Sri Krishna said- In earlier times, Tara, the wife of teacher Bruhaspati was quite youthful, adorned with gem-studded ornaments, clad in extremely fine garments, was quite chaste, having a developed pelvic region, wearing a serene smile on her face, quite charming, beautiful and good looking, her hair was adorned with the garland of jasmine flowers, she had a developed forehead with sandal-paste and a spot of vermilion and kasthuri. She wore anklets which were made of the best of gems, she had beautiful side-glances and collyrium was applied over her eyes, she had beautiful teeth like jewels. She had a pair of ears ornaments which adorned her temples. Thus, the beautiful damsel walked like an elephant, quite slowly, having tender limbs, a moon like face and was quite passionate. She after taking a bath in the river Mandakini was adorned with wet garment. With her mind devoted to the feet of her husband, as soon as she was about to leave for her home, the moon was infatuated with passion at the sight of her beautiful figure and fainted. О lord of Vraja, this moon fainted on the fourth day of the bright fortnight and he retained consciousness. Mounted on the chariot he forcibly carried Tara holding her with her hand and mounted her on the chariot. Getting passionate, he carried her on the chariot and embraced her. Then the moon was found getting ready for a union with her, Tara spoke to him. 

Tara said- О moon you leave me, О blemish for the gods, leave me alone. I happen to be the wife of your teacher and also the daughter of a Brahmana, I have always been chaste and virtuous. One has to earn the sin of hundred Brahmahatyas by cohabiting with the wife of a teacher. If the wife of a teacher happens to be the daughter of a Brahmana and a chaste one, cohabiting with her earns the sins of a thousand Brahmahatyas. 

Therefore, lord of gods, you be patient, look I happen to be your mother and you happen to be my son. In case you indulge in such a type of deplorable action, you will earn disgrace and on hearing this Bruhaspati, the teacher of the gods would reduce you to ashes. You happen to be the pupil of my husband and are dear to him like his own son. Therefore, sinful one, don't indulge in this. You leave the mother like me free and protect the dharma and in case you would touch me again I shall shower on you the sin of the killing of a woman. The moon a on the other hand, did not listen to the words of Tara and got ready to cohabit with her. At this Tara who was free from passion and was quite chaste, became enraged and pronounced a curse on him, "You would be eclipsed by Rahu, covered with the clouds and would be quite sinful to look at. You would be filled with blemish and suffer from the disease of consumption. There is no doubt about it."

Thus, pronouncing a curse on the moon, she also pronounced a curse on the god of love, "You would be reduced to ashes by an illustrious person. О lord of Vraja, thereafter the moon caught hold of Tara and enjoyed her company who was crying and sobbing. He took her in his lap and moved from that place. 

Thereafter he took her to secluded places, the charming and beautiful mountains pools, rivers and rivulets, the beautiful valleys, the flower orchards which were surrounded by the black wasps and the cuckoos issuing sweet notes. He also took her to the flower orchards and enjoyed her company on a bed of flowers. Thus, the moon having his body plastered with the sandal-paste, consuming beverages and was so immensely absorbed in the company of Tara that he lost track of day and night."

He moved on the chariot to the Malaya mountain and Malaya forest with the fragrant breeze blowing in the forest of sandal-wood, the shores of the western ocean peaks of the Trikuta mountain, under the shed of the banyan tree, in the pool, over the lotus leaves plastered with sandal-paste, in the charming orchard, of the campaka flowers, on the land of sea-shore of the ocean of milk, over the Kraunca mountain, mountain of gold, mountain of gems, mountain of rubies, sapphire and diamond which looked quite beautiful. They were decorated with different types of costumes, white fly-whisks, the mirrors, lamps of gems. They visited places of love sports, loving places and consumed the intoxicated beverages at the places were Varuna cohabits with Varunani. The same places were used by the moon to enjoy the company of Tara. Thereafter they went to the sacred orchard on the bank of the river Ratnamala, the Raksha mountain, the forest of kalpavruksha and the abode of Svaha, the beloved of Agni. The moon enjoyed the company of Tara. Then they reached the shore of the ocean of milk and consumed the milk of Kamadhenu.

He presented her with a pair of garments sanctified by fire. Varuna gave the garland of gems and the wind god presented a gem-studded chatra. 

In the meantime, he spotted the sage Shukracharya who had returned from the abode of Bali. The moon bowed before him and narrated to him the entire story, taking refuge with him. Shukracharya, the best of the sages who was well-versed in the Vedas and post-Vedic literature, tried to convince him with appropriate words.

Shukra said- О son listen to me, whatever I tell you, you hand over Tara to Bruhaspati, who is the pupil of Shiva, since you are the son of his teacher and the great grandson of Brahma. You hand over the beloved of your teacher, who is adored by the gods and at once take refuse with him. 

О virtuous one, at my command you release the wife of your teacher because she happens to be like your mother and perform repentance for your sin, because it is quite virtuous to get relieved of the ill effects of the sin. By forcibly cohabiting with the chaste wife of the teacher was to earn the sins of a thousand Brahmahatyas. 

He also falls in the Kumbhipaka hell and has to live there up to the life of a hundred Brahma's. The lord Narayana treats equally all from a blade of grass to Brahma. Therefore, О son, in case even Brahma has to face the result of his deeds, then you are of no consequence, all the gods, the demons and all the three types of creatures are depending on Narayana alone.