Mahabharata episode 42

 

Shaunaka said: “Sutaja! I would like to hear the names of all the snakes that fell into the sacrificial fire of that yagna [sarpasatra].”

The Suta said: "Vedavittama! They were many - thousands and millions. They were so numerous that it is impossible to count them."

I will tell you the names of the important Pannagas [snakes] that were burned in that yagna, which I remember.

As far as I know, the chief serpents born in Vasuki's clan were blue-blooded, fierce, gigantic, and extremely poisonous.

Kotika, Manasa, Purna, Paila, Halisaka, Pichila, Konapashchaka, Konavega, Prakalana, Hiranyavaha, Sharana, Kakshaka, and Kaladantaka are all the sons of Vasuki who fell in the burning yagnakunda.

I will tell you about those born in the lineage of Takshaka. Pucchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindabhetta, Rabhenaka, Ucchikha, Surasa, Dranga, Balaheda, Virohana, Silishalakara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana, Mudgara, Sasharoma, Sumana, and Vegavahana, all these were nagas born in Takshaka, got burned in the yagnakunda.

Paravata, Pariyatra, Pandara, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabha, Moda, Pramoda, Samhatangada, all of them were from the Airavata clan who fell in the burning yagnakunda.

O bramhin! Listen to the names of the serpents born in the Kaurava clan. Aindhila, Kundala, Munda, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Sringavega, Dhurtaka, and Patapatara.

Brahmin! I will now tell you about the swift, fierce serpents born in the family of Dhritarashtra. Listen. Shankukarna, Pinkalaka, Kutharamukha, Mechaka, Purnagada, Purnamukh, Prahasa, Shakuni, Hari, Amahatha, Komathaka, Shvasana, Manav, Vata, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pishanga, Udraparaga, swift Rishabha, Mahahanu, Pindaraka, Raktangaga, Sarvasaranga, Samriddhi, Patarakshasa, Varahaka, Varanaka, Sumitra, Chitravedika, Parashara, Tarunaka, Maniskanda and Aruni.

Brahmin! I have mentioned the names of the main famous Nagas. Since there are so many, I have not mentioned the names of all of them.

It is impossible to count the sons, grandsons, and descendants of these who perished in the burning fire.

Hundreds of thousands of snakes, some with seven heads, some with two heads, and some with five heads, all with deadly venom like the Kalanala, were killed.

They looked like giant bodies, mighty and were one yojana wide and two yojana long.

"Many serpents, lustful, capable of going wherever they wanted, and poisonous like burning fire, were struck by the rod of Brahma and burned to ashes in that great sarpasatra."

This is the fifty-second chapter of the Sarpanamakathana in the Adiparva, Astikaparva, of the Mahabharata.

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