Stories of the Great Bharata - A Retelling

Arc 3 - Astika - Chapter 10 - Śeṣa’s Boon

Śaunaka said, "O son of Suta, you have told us the reason why the snakes were cursed by their mother and why Vinita was also cursed by her son. You have also told us about the bestowal of boons by their husband, on Kadru and Vinita. You have likewise told us the names of Vinita's son, but you have not recited us the names of the snakes. We are anxious to hear the names of the principal ones."

Sauti replied:

"O great sage Śaunaka, I shall now name the foremost among the thousand sons of Kadru, who were all of virulent poison, terrifying might, and known across the three worlds. Listen as I recount the principal Nāgas, who were leaders among their kind."

Then he named them:

Śeṣa, the eldest, of infinite coils, supporter of the world, who upholds the earth on his hoods.Vāsuki, the king of serpents, who was used as the churning rope during the ocean’s agitation.Takṣaka, the fierce and swift, who bit King Parikṣit and was the cause of Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice.Kāmbala and Aśvatara, swift like the wind and companions of Vāsuki.Padma, Mahāpadma, and Elāpatra, of immense size and strength.Karkotaka, who deceived Nala and helped him find his path.Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śaṅkha, Niḷa, Anila, Vainya, and Airāvata, all with radiant bodies and fearsome power.There were also thousands more, terrifying in form and measureless in number, who dwelt in the netherworlds (Pātāla), in forests, and amidst rivers and mountains, known for their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and illusions.

Sauti concluded:

"These were the leaders among the Nāgas, O sage, and their fame spreads across earth and heaven. Many of them were destined to perish in Janamejaya’s sacrifice, though some were saved by the wisdom of Āstīka."

Sauti then continued:

“O best of regenerate ones, I have said the names of the principal serpents. From fear of being too tedious, I did not give the names of the rest. O thou whose wealth is asceticism, the sons of these snakes with their grandsons are innumerable. Reflecting upon this, I shall not name them to thee. O best of ascetics, in this world the number of snakes baffles calculation, there being many thousands and millions of them. Not all knowledge is in enumeration—sometimes, the gesture of acknowledgment holds as much weight as the detail.”

Saunaka said:

"O child, you have named many of the serpents—gifted with great energy and incapable of being easily overcome. What did they do after hearing that curse?"

Sauti replied:

"Among them, the illustrious Sesha, renowned and revered, departed from his mother and withdrew to a life of asceticism.

He lived upon air, in rigid observance of his vows, and practiced penances of great austerity.

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To the mountains and forests he went—

Gandhamādana, Badarī, Gokarṇa, the woods of Puṣkara, and the foot of Himavat,

Sacred lands, some hallowed for their waters, others for the soil—

There, with singleness of aim, and passions stilled,

Clad in rags, his hair matted, his flesh and sinew shriveled by discipline,

He pressed on, unmoved, for the sake of his inner vow.

The Grandsire Brahmā, creator of all beings, saw him thus—

With compassion and curiosity, the Lord of Worlds approached him and spoke:

'O Sesha, of great fortitude, what thorn troubles thy soul?

Why dost thou strive so hard, forsaking comfort and kin?

Though sinless, thy penance burdens all beings—

Let the welfare of creation also find a place in thy heart.

Tell me, O noble serpent, what is the desire implanted deep within thee?'"

Sesha replied:

"My uterine brothers, O Lord, are all of wicked hearts—

I desire not their company nor their ways.

Let this be sanctioned by thee:

Like enemies, they envy and harm one another;

They hold no kindness for Vinita or for her son.

Yet Garuda, incapable once of ranging the sky,

Is now mighty, by the boon of our father, Kashyapa the high-souled.

They despise him still—and I despise their hatred.

Therefore I devote myself to penance,

To cast off this body and the bonds it brings,

So I may avoid them in this life and the next."

Brahmā said:

"O Shesha, I know thy brothers’ ways,

The cruel fire of envy in their hearts,

And the grave danger they bring upon themselves

For the offense against their mother.

But know, O noble one,

A remedy I had foreseen—

For even before their curse was uttered,

I had devised a path for peace.

Grieve not for thy brothers now.

Instead, O best of serpents,

Ask thou a boon—what thy heart desires.

I am gratified with thee today.

Fortunate is the one whose heart

Clings firm to virtue—

May thine grow ever firmer still."

Sesha said:

"O Grandsire,

This is the boon I humbly seek:

May my heart always rejoice

In virtue and ascetic penance.

Let me be ever anchored in righteousness,

Detached from quarrels,

At peace with all."

Brahmā replied:

"O Sesha,

Your words delight the worlds.

You seek not strength nor power,

But only the path of peace.

Yet hear now my command,

O gentle serpent of pure heart—

For the good of my creation,

Bear this trembling earth.

With her oceans and forests,

Her mountains and cities and hermitages,

She totters unsteadily—

Let her rest steady upon you."

Sesha said:

"O Divine Lord of all creatures,

Bestower of boons,

Master of the worlds—

As thou commandest, so shall I do.

I shall bear the earth on my head,

Firm and unwavering.

Let her be placed upon me."

Brahmā replied:

"O noble serpent,

Descend now beneath the earth.

She shall herself yield a path for you.

And by sustaining her,

Thou shalt fulfill a task

Most sacred in my eyes."

Then the elder brother of the king of snakes,

Through the earth’s hollow passage went,

And reaching the world’s underbelly,

He raised the trembling sphere upon his hood—

That goddess, adorned with oceans as her girdle.

Brahmā said:

"O Sesha, noblest of serpents,

Thou art dharma incarnate.

Alone, with thy colossal form,

Thou supportest the earth and all within her—

Even as I, or Indra, lord of the heavens, might."

And so it was that Sesha, the mighty Ananta,

Dwelling alone in the nether realms,

Bore the weight of all the worlds,

At the behest of the creator himself.

And Brahmā, pleased beyond measure,

Gave unto Ananta a noble companion—

Garuda, the son of Vinita,

Ranger of the skies, of golden wings,

To stand as his ally in cosmic balance.