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Mahabharata
Astika Parva (I)
Conference between Jaratkaru and Manes. Jaratkaru's marriage with Vasuki’s sister. Curse of Snakes by Mother Kadru. Story of the origin of snakes. Story of the churning the ocean. Churning the ocean. Curse of Kadru's sons. Description of the ocean. Seeing of ocean.
Shaunaka said:
Why did that best of kings, king Janamejaya, resolve to destroy the snakes in a Snake-sacrifice?
O Sauti, tell us in full the true story. Why did the best of the twice-bom Astika, the foremost of ascetics, rescue the snakes from the blazing fire?
Whose son was the monarch who performed the Snake-sacrifice? Whose son was that best of the twice-bom, (who saved the snakes)? Tell us this.
Sauti said :
O best of speakers, the story of Astika is very long, I shall relate it in full. O Listen.
Shaunaka said :
I am desirous of hearing in detail the interesting history of Astika, the illustrious Brahmana.
Sauti said :
The Brahmanas call this history, recited by Krishna Dvaipayana, a Purana. To the dwellers of Naimisharanya.
Was it formerly narrated by my learned father Lomaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, as requested by the Brahmanas.
I was present at the time, O Shaunaka, As you ask me, I shall recite it exactly as I heard it.
(Listen) to this all sin-destroying history. Astika's father was as powerful as the Prajapati.
He was a Brahmachari, always engaged in austere penances, regular in meals, a great Rishi of controlled sexual desire. He was known by the name of Jaratkaru.
He was the foremost of Yayavaras, a man of rigid vows, highly religious and endowed with great ascetic powers. Once at a time this great ascetic,
Being Yatra Sayan Griha (living in the place where night overtook him), roamed all over the world, bathed in many sacred waters and visited many holy shrines.
He practised difficult austere penances; and feeding on air, remaining in fast and renouncing sleep forever, he roamed (over the world.)
As bright as a blazing fire, he roamed about and thus roving about, he one day saw his ancestors,
Hanging their heads down in a great hole, their feet pointing upwards. On seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed his ancestors thus,
"Who are you thus hanging in the hole, your heads downward, by a rope of the Virana fibre which has been eaten by the rats that live secretly near this hole?"
The Ancestors said:
We are Rishis of austere penances, called Yayavara. We are sinking down into the earth for the want of an offspring.
We have a son, named Jaratkaru. Unfortunate we are, that wretch has adopted asceticism.
And therefore that fool does not think of marriage to raise up offspring. It is for this reason, namely the want of offspring that we are thus suspended in the hole.
Having means, we are like sinners who have no means. O excellent man, who are you that are sorrowing for us like a friend?
O Brahmana, we wish to know who you are that stand near us and why? O excellent man, are you sorrowing for us?
Jaratkaru said:
You are my sires and grand-sires. I am that very Jaratkaru. Tell me what I shall do.
The Ancestors said:
Try your best to do that by which you can raise up an offspring to extend our line. You will then do an act meritorious both for you and for us.
O Son, not by the fruits of virtue, not by the hoarded-up ascetic penances, does one acquire such merit as is acquired by one who is a father.
Therefore, O son, set your mind upon marriage and offspring at our command. It will do us the highest good.
Jaratkaru said :
I shall not marry, nor shall I earn money for my own self. But I shall marry to do you good.
If a bride can be had whose name will be the same as mine, whose friends will give her to me willingly and as a gift, O fathers, under these conditions, if I get a girl, your command will be obeyed. I shall duly marry her according to the ordinances of the Shastras.
But who will give his daughter to a poor man like me to be my wife? I shall, however, accept the girl who will be given to me a gift.
O sires, I shall try to marry such a girl. Having said so, I shall not act otherwise.
O fathers, I shall begot offspring on her for your release, so that you may attain to the heaven, called Shashvata and rejoice there at will.
Sauti said:
The Brahmana of hard austerities (Jaratkaru) roamed over the world for a wife, but wife did not get.
One day he went into the forest and remembering the words of his ancestors, he thrice begged for a bride in a faint voice.
Thereupon, Vasuki appeared and offered his sister for the Rishi's acceptance. But the Rishi hesitated to accept her, thinking her to be not of the same name with himself.
The high-souled Jaratkaru thought within himself, "I will take none for my wife who does not bear my name."
Then Jaratkaru, the great ascetic of rigid austerities, said, "O snake tell me truly what is the name of your sister?"
Vasuki said :
O Jaratkaru, my sister's name is also Jaratkaru. Given as a gift by me, accept this girl of slender waist for your wife. O best of the twice bom, I had kept her in reserve for you. Therefore, take her.
Saying this he offered his beautiful sister to Jaratkaru, who then married her according to the ordained rites.
Sauti said :
O foremost of Brahma knowing men, the mother of the snakes, in the days of yore, cursed the Naga race, saying, "He whose charioteer is wind (Agni) will consume you at Janamejaya's sacrifice.
To neutralise the effect of that curse, the best of snakes (Vasuki) married his sister to the high-souled Rishi of rigid vow.
Accepting her according to the ordained rites, he begot on her a high-souled son, called Astika,
Who was a great ascetic, who was vastly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, who removed the fears of his parents and who saw everything with an equal eye.
Then after a long time, a descendant of the Pandavas, celebrated a great sacrifice, known as the Snake-sacrifice.
When the sacrifice for the destruction of the snakes had begun, the great ascetic Astika rescued the Nagas,
His brothers, his maternal uncles and other snakes. He also delivered his fathers by begetting a child.
O Brahmana, he freed himself from their debts by rigid austerities, by various vows and the study of the Vedas. He propitiated the celestial by sacrifices in which various presents were made.
He pleased the Rishi by his Brahmacharya and his ancestors by begetting offspring. Thus
discharging the heavy debt that he owed to his ancestors.
Jaratkaru, of great austerity, attained heaven with his forefathers. Begetting the son, Astika and acquiring great religious merit, the best of the Munis,
The greatly noble Jaratkaru, after a long course of years, went to heaven. This is the story of Astika. I have briefly narrated it (to you). Now, tell me, O best of the Bhrigu race, what else I shall narrate.
Shaunaka said:
O Sauti, once more relate to us in detail the history of the learned and virtuous Astika. Great is our curiosity to hear it.
O gentle one, you speak very sweetly with proper accent and emphasis. We are very much, pleased with your speech. You speak like your (late) father.
Your father was always ready to please us. Tell us, therefore, the story that your father had related.
To neutralise the effect of that curse, the best of snakes (Vasuki) married his sister to the high-souled Rishi of rigid vow.
Accepting her according to the ordained rites, he begot on her a high-souled son, called Astika,
Who was a great ascetic, who was vastly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, who removed the fears of his parents and who saw everything with an equal eye.
Then after a long time, a descendant of the Pandavas, celebrated a great sacrifice, known as the Snake-sacrifice.
When the sacrifice for the destruction of the snakes had begun, the great ascetic Astika rescued the Nagas,
His brothers, his maternal uncles and other snakes. He also delivered his fathers by begetting a child.
O Brahmana, he freed himself from their debts by rigid austerities, by various vows and the study of the Vedas. He propitiated the celestial by sacrifices in which various presents were made.
He pleased the Rishi by his Brahmacharya and his ancestors by begetting offspring. Thus
discharging the heavy debt that he owed to his ancestors.
Jaratkaru, of great austerity, attained heaven with his forefathers. Begetting the son, Astika and acquiring great religious merit, the best of the Munis,
The greatly noble Jaratkaru, after a long course of years, went to heaven. This is the story of Astika. I have briefly narrated it (to you). Now, tell me, O best of the Bhrigu race, what else I shall narrate.
Sauti said :
O ascetic Rishi, about this time the two sisters one day saw Uchaishrava approaching towards them.
(It was horse) who was worshipped by the celestial, who was the gem among all horses, who rose at the churning of the ocean for the Ambrosia,
Who was divine, graceful, ever-young, irresistible, vigorous, who was creator's masterpiece and who was blessed with all the auspicious marks.
Why and where did the celestial churn the ocean for the Ambrosia, in which did rise, as you say, this best of steeds, so powerful and resplendent? Tell me this.
Sauti said :
There is a very great mountain, called Meru of blazing and effulgent appearance. The rays of the sun are scattered away when they fall on its golden summit.
Decked with gold and exceedingly beautiful, this mountain is frequented by the Devas and Gandharvas; it is immeasurable and unapproachable by men of many sins.
It is illuminated with many medicinal plants and fearful beasts of prey roam on its heights.
It is unapproachable even by mind; it is graced with many trees and stream-lets and resounds with the sweet melody of innumerable birds.
It stands high for infinite ages. Once did the celestial sit on its golden summit and held a conclave.
They, who had practised penances and observed vows, came in quest of the Ambrosia. They consulted together about the possession of the Ambrosia and seeing them in this mood Narayana addressed Brahma saying;
"Chum the ocean with both the Devas and the Asuras. By doing so, the Ambrosia and all drugs and gems will be obtained. O celestial, chum the ocean you will get the Ambrosia.
Sauti said:
There is a mountain called Mandara with peaks like the clouds. It is the best of mountains and adorned with innumerable creepers.
On it do many birds pour forth their melody and may beasts of prey roam about; it
is frequented by the Kinnaras, Apsaras and celestial.
It rises eleven thousand Yojanas upwards and descends eleven thousand Yojanas downwards.
The celestial, having failed to uproot it, came to Vishnu and Brahma who were sitting together and said to them.
"Devise some means you yourselves. Do try to uproot Mandara for our good."
O son of Bhrigu, "Let it be so" said both Narayana and Brahma. The lotus-eyed (Vishnu) laid the hard task on the king of the snakes, (Ananta).
Being directed by both Brahma and Narayana to do it, the mighty Ananta uprooted the mountain with all the woods and the denizens of woods that were on it.
Then came all the celestial with Ananta to the shores of the ocean, Addressing it they said, "O Ocean, we have come to churn you for the Ambrosia.
The ocean replied, "Be it so, as I shall get a share of it. I am quite able to bear the great agitation arising out of the churning of my water by Mandara.
The Devas and the Danavas then went to the Tortoise king and said, "You will have to hold the mountain on your back."
The Tortoise king having agreed, Indra placed that mountain on its back by means of instruments.
The Devas and the Danavas having made Mandara the churning staff and Vasuki the rope. O Brahmana, in days of yore, began to churn the ocean for the Ambrosia. The Asuras held him by the head and the Devas by the tail.
And Ananta, who was a manifested form of Narayana, again and again raised and lowered the hood of the Naga.
On account of the great agitation, received at the hands of the celestial, black vapours with flames issued from the mouth of the Naga Vasuki.
From these vapours were created clouds with lightning; and they poured showers on the tired celestial who were thus refreshed.
The flowers that fell from the trees on the mountain-sides on the Devas and the Danavas also refreshed them.
There rose from Mandara, dragged by the Devas and the Danavas, a terrible roar like the roar of the clouds (at the Universal dissolution).
Various aquatic animals were crushed by the great mountain and gave up their lives in the salt sea.
Many denizens of the lower region and those of the land of Varuna were killed by the mountain.
From the whirling Mandara large trees, being struck at one another, were torn from their roots and fell into the ocean with all the birds (that roosted on their branches).
And great fires were produced from the mutual friction of the trees that frequently blazed up and the Mandara mountain looked like black clouds charged with lightning.
It burnt the lions, elephants and other various creatures that were on the mountain and killed them (on the spot).
Then the best of the celestial, Indra began to extinguish the blazing fire by pouring heavy showers.
Then the gums of various great trees and herbs mingled with the waters of the ocean.
The celestial became immortal by drinking the water mixed with the liquid extract of gold and those gums which had the quality of the Ambrosia.
The milky water of the churned ocean by degrees produced clarified butter by virtue of those gums and juices.
Thereupon the Devas came to the boon-granting God who was comfortably seated on his seat and said, "O Brahman, we are spent out but the Ambrosia has not yet arisen."
Except Narayana, both the Devas and the Danavas have no strength to churn the ocean (any longer).
Then did Brahmana say to Narayana, "Kindly give the celestial strength to churn the Ocean again with Mandara mountain."
Narayana said:
I grant you all necessary strength. Go, insert the mountain and churn the Ocean.
Thus hearing the words of Narayana and being re-equipped with fresh strength the celestial recommenced churning.
Then from the ocean rose the mild and brilliant Moon of thousand rays.
Then rose from ghee, the lotus-seated Lakshmi; then Shura Devi (Wine) then the great Steed.
Then from the ghee rose the celestial gem Kaustubha which adorns the breast of Narayana. Then rose, O Brahmana, Parijata tree and Surabhi, all giver of everything.
Lakshmi, Wine, Moon, Horse (Uchchaishrava), fleet as the mind, all directed by Aditya went to the place where the celestial were.
Then rose the divine Dhanvantari with a white vessel in his hand and (there in that vessel) was the Ambrosia.
Seeing this wonderful phenomenon, the Danavas raised a great uproar for the Ambrosia, saying "It is ours."
Then rose the great elephant Airavata, with two white tusks and a huge body and he was seized by the wielder of thunder (Indra).
The churning was still continued; and then appeared deadly poison, which soon covered the whole earth and blazed up like a fire with fumes.
The three worlds were stupified by its terrible smell; and then Shiva, asked by Brahma, swallowed it to save the creation.
The great Deity Maheshvara of Mantra-form held it in his throat and it is said that from the very day he was called Nilkantha (blue-throat).
Seeing all those wonderful phenomena, the Danavas were filled with despair. They raised up great hostilities with the celestial for the possession of Lakshmi and Ambrosia.
Thereupon Narayana assumed a form of a ravishing beauty by the aid of Maya and he began a flirtation with the Danavas in the form of a female.
The foolish Danavas and Daityas becoming fully, enamoured of her, placed the Ambrosia in her hands.
Sauti said:
Then the Daityas and Danavas, in best armours and with various weapons, pursued the celestial.
In the meantime the greatly powerful Lord Vishnu, accompanied with Narayana, took away the Ambrosia from the mighty Danavas.
Thereupon all the celestial, in that great struggle, drank the Ambrosia receiving it from Vishnu.
When the celestial were drinking the much longed-for Ambrosia, a Danava, named Rahu, drank it in the guise of a celestial.
When the Ambrosia has only reached his throat, Chandra and Surya (recognised him and) informed the celestial of what had happened.
Narayana immediately with his discus cut off the well-adomed head of the Danava who was drinking the Ambrosia.
The huge head of the Danava, cut off by the discus, rose up to the sky like a mountain peak and it uttered terrible cries.
The headless body of the Danava fell on the earth, shaking it with all her mountains, forests and islands.
From that day a great enmity was created between the head of Rahu and Chandra and Surya. To this day it swallows Chandra and Surya (causing eclipses.)
Then Hari, quitting his matchless female form, made the Danavas tremble by hurling at them various weapons.
Thus began the terrible battle between the Devas and Danavas on the shores of the salt sea.
Thousands of sharp javelins and lances and various other weapons were hurled on all sides.
Cut by the discus and wounded by swords, darts and maces, the Asuras vomited blood and lay prostrate on earth.
The heads, adorned with bright gold, cut off by the discus, fell continually in the fearful battle.
The great Asuras, covered with blood, lay dead everywhere and they looked like red dyed mountain peaks.
When the sun grew red, the piteous cries of distress issued from everywhere and from the dying Asuras.
The roars, of the warriors that cut one another down by missiles when at a distance and by blows of their fists when at close quarters, rose to the sky.
"Cut down," "pierce them", "pursue", "advance" these fearful war-cries were heard everywhere.
When this fearful battle was raging, Nara and Narayana entered the field.
Seeing the celestial bow in the hand of Nara, Narayana thought of his Danava destroying discus.
As soon as it was thought of the discus Sudarshana, the destroyer of enemies, effulgent as Agni and dreadful in battle, came down from the sky.
When it came, Achyuta, of fearful energy (Narayana) as bright as the blazing fire, with arms like the trunk of an elephant, hurled with great force that weapon, as bright as the blazing fire, dreadful, of extraordinary lustre, capable of destroying hostile towns.
That discus, blazing like the fire at the great dissolution of the universe being hurled by the hand of Narayana, continually falling everywhere, destroyed the Daityas and the Danavas by thousands.
Sometimes it blazed like fire and consumed them all; sometimes it struck them down like a goblin; sometimes it drank the blood of the slain Danavas as it travelled through earth and sky.
The greatly powerful and bold Danavas, looking like the rainless clouds, rose to the sky and continually hurled down thousands of mountains, on the celestial, thus harassing them (with terrible vengeance).
And those fearful mountains, with their forests and flat tops, like masses of clouds, fell from the sky, collided with one another and produced a tremendous roar.
And when thousands of warriors continually shouted on the field of battle and mountains, with forests thereon, fell all around, the earth with her forests began to tremble.
Then the divine Nara, appearing in the fearful battle of the Asuras and Ganas and reducing to dust those mountains by means of his gold-headed arrows, covered the heavens with dust.
Then the mightily Danavas, having been overpowered by the celestial and having seen the fearful discuss roving over the fields of heaven like a blazing fire, entered into the bowels of the earth; and some of them plunged into the salt-sea.
The celestial, having gained the victory, placed with due respect Mandara on its own base; and the clouds, making the heaven resound with their shouts, when to their own abodes.
The celestial returning to heaven, were greatly rejoiced and kept the Ambrosia in great care. Indra and other celestial made over the vessel containing Ambrosia to Nara to keep it with all care.
Sauti said:
Thus have I narrated to you how the Ambrosia was churned out of the Ocean, in which the beautiful and powerful horse (Uchchaishrava) was produced.
Respecting this horse Kadru asked Vinata, saying, "Tell me, sister, without delay, what is the colour of Uchchaishrava?"
Vinata said :
This king of the horses is of white colour. What colour do you think, sister? Say what is its colour; let us lay a wager on it.
Kadru said :
O sweet lady of smiles, I think the horse is black in its tail. Let us lay this wager that she, whose words will be untrue, will become the slave of the other.
Sauti said :
Thus wagering that one will be the slave of the other, they went home, saying "We shall see the horse tomorrow."
Wishing to play a deception, Kadru ordered her thousand sons to be black hair;
And speedily cover the horse's tail so that she might not become a slave. But on their refusal to do her bidding. She cursed the snakes, saying,
"In the Snake-sacrifice of the royal sage, wise Janamejaya of the Pandava race Agni will consume you all.
The Grandsire (Brahma) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse, denounced by Kadru, impelled by Fate.
And he (Brahma), out of kindness for creatures and seeing that the snakes had enormously multiplied, approved of this curse with all the deities.
"Considering their virulent poison, excessive strength, great prowess, biting propensity, their mother's curse had been very proper for the good of all creatures.
"Fate always inflicts death on those who seek the death of others." Talking thus, the celestial much praised Kadru.
Then calling Kashyapa, the Deity said. "O sinless one, O powerful one, the snakes of virulent poison, of huge bodies and of biting propensity whom you have begotten have been cursed by their mother. O child, you should not be least sorry for it.
The destruction of the snakes in the sacrifice (of Janamejaya) has been told in the Purana." Saying this, the Divine creator of the Universe propitiated Kashyapa and bestowed on that great man the knowledge of neutralising poison.
Sauti said :
O Rishi, when the night was gone and the rose in the morning, the sisters, Kadru and Vinata.
Having laid an wager of slavery and burning in jealously, started to see the horse Uchchaishrava.
On their way they saw the great ocean, vast and deep, agitated by wind, making a tremendous roar.
It was full of whales, fishes large enough to swallow whales, Makaras, tortoises and creatures of various forms by thousands.
It was inaccessible by any creatures on account of the presence of terrible, monster-shaped, dark and fierce aquatic animals. It was full of crocodiles and tortoises.
It abounded with all kinds of gems; it was the home of Varuna, the beautiful and excellent abode of the Nagas; it was the lord of all rivers.
It was the abode of subterranean fire, the friend of the Asuras, the terror of all creatures,
the great reservoir of waters, having no deterioration.
It was holy, it was beneficial to the celestial, it was the great mine of Ambrosia, it was infinite, inconceivable, sacred and highly wonderful.
It was fearful with the terrible roars of acquatic creatures, tremendously roaring and full of deep whirlpools. It was an object of terror to all creatures.
Moved by winds, heaving high with agitation and disturbance, it seemed to dance everywhere with uplifted hands represented by its waves.
It was full of heaving billows, caused by the changes of the moon, it was the parent of (the great conch of Krishna) Panchajanya, it was the great mine of gems.
It was in days of yore disturbed by the greatly powerful Lord Govinda (Vishnu) when he assumed the form, of a boar for raising the earth.
The Rishi Atri of great austerity could not fathom its bottom, lower than the nether regions, though he tried to do it for one thousand years.
It became the bed of lotus-navelled Vishnu when at the end of every Yuga the immeasurably powerful Deity fell asleep in spiritual meditation.
It was the asylum which (the hill) Mainaka took under the fear of the falling thunder. It was the retreat of the Asuras, overcome (by the celestial) in the fearful battle.
It was the ghee, in the shape of its waters, in the (sacrificial) fire that issued forth from the mouth of Varava. It was without limits, fathomless, vast, immeasurable and the lord of rivers.
They saw that thousands of great rivers were rushing into it in great pride like rivals of its love. They saw that it was full, always dancing in its waves.
They saw that it was deep and resounded with the terrible uproar of Makaras Times and other aquatic creatures; they saw it was vat, unlimited as space, unfathomable, infinite and the great reservoir of waters.
Sauti said:
The Nagas, after a consultation came to the conclusion that they should obey their mother's
command, for if her wish was nor gratified, she, abandoning her love towards them, would bum them all.
If she was gratified, she might free them from curse. They said:- "We shall undoubtedly make the horse's hair black."
It. is said that they then went and became hairs on the tail of the horse (Uchchaishrava). In the mean time the two co-wives laid the wager.
And having laid the wager, O best of Brahmanas, the two sisters proceeded in great delight to the other side of the great ocean.
Kadru and Vinata, the daughters of Daksha, saw on their way the ocean, incapable of being easily disturbed.
(But) greatly agitated all on a sudden by the wind. (It was) terribly roaring, full of Timingils and Makaras.
And thousand other creatures of various forms; it was frightful for the presence of horrible monsters; it was inaccessible, fearful and terrible,
The mine of all gems, the home of Varuna, the beautiful habitation of the Nagas, the Lord of rivers,
The abode of subterranean fire, the home of the Asuras and many fearful creatures, the reservoir of waters.
It was holy, the great receptacle of the Ambrosia of the celestial, immeasurable and inconceivable, full of holy waters.
Filled with many thousands of rivers and thus disturbed, dancing in its waves.
Such was the ocean full of liquid waves, (it was) vast as the sky, deep, lighted with the flames of subterranean fire, roaring; they (the sisters) passed quickly over it.
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