One day, while walking through the forests, Narada came across a deer lying on the ground. It had been pierced with an arrow and was writhing in pain. A little later, Narada saw a boar and then a rabbit also injured and moaning in pain. Narada Muni was greatly pained at heart to see living beings suffer so. As he walked on, he came upon a hunter standing behind a tree. The hunter was lifting his bow to attack another animal. Narada asked the hunter if he had injured the animals. The hunter nodded. Narada then asked him, "Why did you half-kill them by piercing their bodies with arrows?"

The hunter replied that he drew pleasure from seeing the animals suffer to death. Narada was furious and told him that leaving harmless animals battered in this way meant giving them immense pain. He cursed the hunter, saying that if he did not stop doing so, the souls of the injured animals would return to haunt him.

The hunter grew worried and asked for forgiveness, but Narada said that he could be forgiven only if he performed severe penance.

Narada instructed the hunter to give up hunting and set up a small hut near the river. He told the hunter to plant a Tulsi plant and worship it regularly. After years, Narada found the hunter leading a pure life in the forests.