Mahabharata episode - 29 [Takshakadamsha]

 

Takshak said: “Kashyapa! If you can heal anyone who has been bitten by me, then revive this tree that I am biting.

"Bramhins! I will burn this banyan tree to ashes right before your eyes. Then show me your special magical power of mantras." Kashyapa said: “Nagendra! If you like, bite this tree. Bhujangama! I will make it live as you see.” The Suta said: “Having been thus spoken to by the great Kasyapa, Nagendra Pannagottama [the snake] bit the Nyagrodha tree that was there. The tree, bitten by that great snake, began to burn from all sides, absorbing the poison. The serpent, having burned the tree, said again to Kashyapa: "O Bramhin! Try your best to revive this Vanaspati." Taking all the ashes from the tree, which had been consumed by the brilliance of Pannagendra[the snake], Kashyapa spoke these words: "Pannagendra! Look! I will now bring this vanaspati to life with my power of knowledge. Watch, Bhujangam!" Then the learned Lord Dwijasattama Kashyapa brought the tree, which was a pile of ashes, to life with his knowledge. First he made a sprout, gave it two leaves, and made it again like the original tree, with its branches.

Seeing the tree brought to life by the great Kashyapa, Takshak said: "Brahmin! This work of yours is truly wonderful."

Viprendra! You can destroy this poison of mine or any other poison. Tapodhana! How much wealth are you desiring when you go? I will give you the solution you seek from king, no matter how difficult it may be. Bramhin! It is doubtful that your attempt to save that decrepit ruler, cursed by the Brahmin, will succeed. "Thus, if the rays of the sun were to be taken away, your success, which is radiant throughout the three worlds, would somehow be extinguished." Kasyapa said: “I am going there for the sake of money. Bhujangam! Uragasattama! If you give me that, I will accept it from you and return home.” Takshak said: “I will give you more money than you ask for from the king. Dwijotama! Return.”

The Suta said: “Hearing the words of Takshak, the great and wise Kashyapa, the brilliant and wise, thought about the king and, with his divine knowledge, he knew that the nobleman, born in the Pandava clan, was a man of great age. Then the sage received as much money as he wanted from Takshak and returned. As per the agreement, Takshak hurriedly arrived at the Naga-host city, in order for the great Kashyapa to return from there. While leaving, Takshak heard that the Lord of the Universe was very cautious and protected from poisonous spells. Then he began to think, "We must deceive the king through magic. What is the plan?" Then the serpent Takshak sent some snakes to the king in the form of penance, giving him fruits, leaves, and water. Takshak said: “All of you go to the king and insist that he accept the fruits of the harvest, as there is an important matter in the king’s hands.”

The Suta said: “As Takshak had said, those snakes departed, carrying the king’s food, water, and fruits. Brave Veeryawan Rajendra accepted everything they brought and told them to return after their work was done. After the serpents, who had taken the form of ascetics, had departed, he said to his companions and friends: "All of you, join me in eating these delicious fruits brought by the ascetics." Shaunaka! When the king wanted to eat the fruits with his ministers, a copper-colored worm, as small as a particle, with black eyes, appeared in the fruit the king was holding. Nripashreshtha, who caught it, said to his ministers: "The sun is setting. I am no longer afraid of poison. Consider the words of that sage as true, and let this worm bite me as soon as possible. In this way, let the truth be prevented from becoming a lie!" The ministers, who were astonished by his words, praised him. Saying this, Rajendra laughed loudly and threw the worm on his neck, immediately losing consciousness and fainting.

This is the thirty-ninth chapter of the Adi Parva, Astika Parva, in the Mahabharata, called Takshakadamsha.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9 . The love story of Ruru.

Suta said: “Brahmin! Bhargava Chyavana got a son named Mahatma Diptatejasa Pramati from Sukanya. Pramati got a son named Ruru from Ghritachi. Ruru got a son named Shunaka from Pramadwara. Brahmin! Now I will tell in detail the whole story of that Bhuritejasa Ruru. Listen to the story without leaving anything out. In the past there was a famous sage called Sthulakesha. Hey the bramhin! At the same time we know that Menake was pregnant by Gandharva king Vishwavasu. Bhrigunandana! When the time came, Menake left that womb near the hermitage of Sthulakesha. She went away, leaving the girl on the bank of the river, shining like an immortal child. The great sage Sthulakesa saw that Tejaswini on the banks of the river. Dwijottam! Munishreshtha Sthulakesa saw the girl and was gracious and took her and raised her. She grew up in his ashram. The great sage named her as Pramadvara because she was superior to all others in all forms. Seeing Pramadvara near that ashram, Dharmatma Ruru fell in lo...
Read more

11. The desire of Kadru and Vinata.

Shaunaka said: “Suta! Retell in detail the great story of the saintly poet Astika that you told me. You tell the story melodiously, using the right syllables. We are delighted by your words, which are like those of your father. "Your father has always been busy with our caretaking. So tell me the story you are telling, just as your father told you." The Suta said: “I will tell the story of this Astika just as I heard my father tell the story. Brahmin! In the past, in the Devayuga, Prajapati Daksha had two auspicious daughters. Both these sisters had assumed the form of a wonderful goddess. They were the wives of Kasyapa: Kadru and Vinata. Kasyapa, the husband of Prajapati’s daughters, who had attained supreme happiness with his wives, bestowed boons of love upon them. Hearing that Kashyapa was going to grant them good boons, both the women were filled with incomparable joy and love. Kadru asked for a thousand Nagas, equal in brilliance, as her sons. Vinata asked for two sons,...
Read more

15. Garuda leaving the bramhin.

Suta said: “Then Mahavira, Mahabala, that bird who can go at will came to the mother on the other side of the ocean. There, Vinatha lost the bet and became a slave, and was very sad. Then once Kadru called Vinatha and said to her who was bowing before her son: “Bhadre Vinate! Take me to the solitude of the temple of Nagas, which is very beautiful located at the bottom of the sea.” Then the mother of Suparna left with the mother of serpents and Garuda carrying the Pannagas on the shoulders as the mother said. As that Vihangama Vainateya ascended towards the sun, all the pannagas were struck by the rays of the sun. Seeing the plight of the children, Kadru praised Shakra Indra: “Save the snakes from the scorching sun by raining. Amarottama! You alone are our greatest strength. Purandara! You are the lord of rain and you can make it rain as much as you want. You are the cloud, you are the air, and you are the lightning that shines in amber. You are the one who disperses the clouds and ...
Read more