Although Pṛṣadhra had committed the sin unknowingly, his family priest, Vasiṣṭha, cursed him, saying, "In your next life you shall not be able to become a fallen kṣatriya. Instead, you shall take birth as a śūdra." The guru cursed him though he killed the cow unintentionally (akāmataḥ). He did not give instructions on atonement, but out of anger cursed him because his intelligence had disappeared. That is because the actions of a family priest are subject to great ignorance. Viśvarūpa expressed this as follows: akiṣcanānāṁ hi dhanaṁ śiloṣchanaṁ teneha nirvartita-sādhu-satkriyaḥ kathaṁ vigarhyaṁ nu karomy adhīśvarāḥ paurodhasaṁ hṛṣyati yena durmatiḥ Those who are detached maintain themselves honestly by collecting grains left in the harvested field, or left on the grain market floor. O rulers! How can I take up the condemned profession of a priest which gives joy only to the foolish?