Section XVII

"Salya said,

'Now when the great Indra, the intelligent chief of the gods, was deliberating with the guardians of the world and other deities upon the means of slaying Nahusha, there appeared at that spot the venerable ascetic Agastya.

And Agastya honoured the lord of the gods and said,

'How fortunate that you are flourishing after the destruction of that being of universal form, as also that of Vritra. And how fortunate. O Purandara, Nahusha has been hurled from the throne of heaven. How fortunate, O slayer of Vala, that I behold you with all your enemies killed.'

"Indra said,

'Has your journey hither been pleasant, O great saint, I am delighted to see you. Accept from me water for washing your feet and face, as also the Arghya and the cow.'

"Salya continued,

'Indra, well-pleased, began to question that best of saints and greatest of Brahmanas when he was seated on a seat after receiving due honours, thus,

'O revered saint, O best of Brahmanas, I wish to have it recited by you how Nahusha of vicious soul was hurled from heaven.'

"Agastya said,

'Listen, O Indra, to the pleasant narrative how the wicked and vicious Nahusha, intoxicated with pride of strength, had been hurled from heaven. The pure-spirited Brahmanas and celestial saints, while carrying him, weary with toil, questioned that vicious one, O best of victors, saying, 'O Indra, there are certain hymns in the Vedas, directed to be recited while sprinkling the cows. Are they authentic or not? Nahusha, who had lost his senses by the operation of the Tamas, told them that they were not authentic.'

The saints then said, 'You are tending towards unrighteousness; you takest not to the righteous path. The greatest saints have formerly said they are authentic, O Indra.'

And incited by Untruth, he touched me on my head with his foot. At this, O lord of Sachi, he became divested of power and of good looks.

Then, as he was agitated and overpowered with fear, I spoke to him,

’since you have pronounced as spurious the unexceptionable hymns of the Veda which have been recited by Brahmarsis (Brahmana saints), and since you have touched my head with your foot, and since you, O ignorant wretch, hast turned these unapproachable saints, equal to Brahma, into animals for carrying you, therefore, O wretch, be divested of your lustre, and being hurled headlong, fall you from heaven, the effect of all your good deeds being exhausted. For ten thousand years, you shalt, in the form of an enormous snake, roam over the earth. When that period is full, you mayst come back to heaven. Thus has that wretch been hurled from the throne of heaven, O repressor of foes.'

How fortunate, O Indra, that we are flourishing now. That thorn of the Brahmanas has been killed. O lord of Sachi, repair you to heaven, protect the worlds, subdue your senses, subdue your foes, and be glorified by the great saints.'

"Salya continued,

'Then, O ruler of men, the gods, and the bands of great saints were exceedingly pleased. And so also were the Pitris, the Yakshas, the Snakes, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, and all the bands of celestial nymphs. And the tanks, the rivers, the mountains, and the seas also were highly pleased.

And all came up and said,

'How fortunate, O slayer of foes, that you are flourishing! How fortunate, that the intelligent Agastya has killed the vicious Nahusha! How fortunate that the vile individual has been turned into a snake to roam over the earth!'"