There were many sages present at the yagya organised by Agastya. Some of them asked Sri Shiva as to why he had created some scriptures which appeared so confusing to human beings. Sri Shiva revealed to them that he had done so to protect the brahmins from the curse of Sage Gautama. Then he narrated the incident as it had happened ---During ancient times, Sage Gautama did an austere penance in Dandakaranya forest. Sri Brahma Deva became pleased and gave him some divine seeds capable of producing eternal crops. Sage Gautama then went to Saptashringa mountain and made his hermitage there. He sowed the seeds and became pleasantly surprised when he saw rice grains sprouting up within few moments. He lived there happily with his disciples. In course of time, the whole country was struck by famine except the place where Sage Gautama had his hermitage.One day, few sages arrived at Sage Gautama's hermitage. Sage Gautama treated them with all the respect. These sages enjoyed the hospitality of Sage Gautama and stayed at his hermitage till the famine phase was over. Then they decided to go back to their respective native places. When they sought Sage Gautama's permission, he requested him to stay for few more days. The sages then decided to use deceitful means for taking Sage Gautama's permission. They created a superficial cow with the help of their illussionary powers and left it near the hermitage of Sage Gautama.Sage Gautama was very pleased to see that cow. He eulogised it by sprinkling water on it. Hardly had he finished his act than the cow died. All those wicked sages arrived there and cursed Sage Gautama for killing an innocent cow. They told him that they could never live along with a person who had killed a cow. Sage Gautama then requested those impostors to tell about the means by which he could become absolved from the heinous sin he had committed. The sages told him that the cow would become alive once Ganga Devi's water was sprinkled on its body.Sage Gautama once again did a tremendous penance to please Sri Shiva. When Sri Shiva appeared, he requested him to give a lock of his hair. Sri Shiva agreed to give a lock of his hair to Sage Gautama. Sage Gautama then went to the spot where the cow's body was lying. He sprinkled some water emanating from the hair. The illussionary cow disappeared within a moment and in its place was created a river. Right then, the sapta rishis arrived there and blessed Sage Gautama. Meanwhile, Sage Gautama realized that a wicked prank had been played on him by those wicked sages. He cursed those wicked sages that they would become bereft of the knowledge of Vedas and also that they would no longer be entitled to perform the vedic rituals.The Sapta rishis requested Sage Gautama to have mercy on those unfortunate brahmins. Sage Gautama then declared that his curse will come true only in Kaliyuga and those brahmins will not be affected by his curse in all the remaining three yugas. The Sapta rishis came to me and informed me about whatever had happened to those unfortunate brahmins. I created 'Shiva Samhita' from my breath which is similar to Vedas as far as the importance of rituals are concerned. I did this for the benediction of the brahmins. I know that brahmins would fall from grace during Kaliyuga. People would give little respect to the Vedas and create their own scriptures. Confusion would be prevalent and people would discover false religions.