Chapter 131 - The Greatness of Nāgeśvara (nāga-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. On the southern bank of Narmadā, there is the excellent Nāgatīrtha where the great serpents achieved fulfilment, O king, when a cause of terror occurred.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

O excellent Brāhmaṇa, usually Nāgas (serpents) cause great terror unto the world (people). How then did a cause of great terror unto them occur whereby they engaged themselves in a severe penance.

O dear one, everything pertaining to the past, present and future in the case of Suras, Asuras and human beings is entirely known to you. Hence my curiosity is great.

The distress that I undergo is due to Duryodhana. When it is flooded with the words issuing forth from your lotus-like mouth, it ceases to oppress.

The more I hear the sin-destroying story narrated through your mouth, O sage of excellent holy vows, the more I recollect this, and the desire for further hearing arises all the more.

Of course, a Brāhmaṇa should not be given further strain but no one else knows the great benefit of the great Vidyādāna (gift of learning) narrated and listened to.

After understanding this duly, may the story with reference to the question put by me be narrated, O Brāhmaṇa, by adopting the compassionate gesture towards me.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

8-15. O king, the more you are talking (putting questions), the more fluency comes to my speech. Despite the slackness resulting from my senility, affection for you never perishes, O dear one.

I shall recount the old legend^[1] the way it occurred as recounted earlier by elders traditionally, O descendant of Bharata.

Kaśyapa had two wives, the most excellent ones in all the worlds. They were Vinatā, mother of Garuḍa, and Kadrū, mother of serpents. A dispute between them arose at the sight of the horse (Uccaiḥśravas) in the morning, O great king. Vinatā perceived the form of the horse brilliant like the refulgence of the sun.

He was completely white. She said to Kadrū: “See here, O lady of excellent countenance, the wholly white form of the horse Uccaiśśravas that incessantly runs with the speed of wind.”

On seeing him proceeding fast, she (Kadrū) was deluded by a fit of internal envy. Considering him black, she prattled thus to her, O excellent king:

“O Vinatā, O cruel one spoiling the whole family! You are a Her. I say, this is black. If you say, this is white, you will fall into the great abysm of Naraka.”

Vinatā said:

16-26. A true statement and a false one shall be our stakes, yours and mine. I shall be a maidservant in your house for a period of one thousand years in case my statement proves false.

Thus they pledged each other’s plight and went home at night. They had by that time abandoned the paroxysm of anger.

They went to their kinsmen and mentioned the stake, the incident that took place between Kadrū and Vinatā in the pleasure spot.

On hearing it, all the kinsmen as well as the sons of Kadrū thought that a despicable thing was committed by their mother. It was not conducive to their welfare.

They said: “Mother, the excellent horse is not black. How can he become black? On account of this stipulation, O lady of holy rites, you will have to become a slave.”

Kadrū said:

Do something immediately lest I should become a slave. This is my suggestion that you should penetrate the hair pores of that horse. If this is done for a very short while, she will become my slave. Thereby, O serpents, you will become happy.

The serpents said:

O fair lady, although you have been considered (and honoured) as the mother of serpents on the earth, still she (Vinatā) cannot be deceived outright.

Kadrū said:

If there are serpents on the earth not caring to carry out my behest, all of them will straightway fall into the jaws of Havyavāha (fire).

On hearing these terrible words that issued from the mouth of their mother, some of them entered the hairs (of the horse). Others stayed on mountains. Some of them entered Gaṅgā and others began to perform penance.

27-36. Then at the end of a thousand years, Parameśvara was pleased. Mahādeva, the creator of the universe, spoke in majestic words:

“O serpents, desist from the austerities. I shall grant you the great benefit thereof which you wish for. You need not worry over it.”

The serpents said:

O Maheśvara, O Lord of Devas, we are afraid of the curse of Kadrù. We shall stay near you until the annihilation of all living beings.

Devadeva (Śiva) said:

This mighty Vāsuki, the excellent one among serpents, alone shall stay always near me. He will be the protector of all from fear.

At my bidding the other serpents need not fear at all. Leaping into the waters of Narmadā those serpents can be well protected. They need not be afraid of death. Stay where you desire to. There is no fear of the curse of Kadrū. This is my supreme seat (vistaraḥ paraḥ?).

Thus, after granting them the boon, Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, went to Kailāsa mountain passing through the sky.

When the Lord vanished, O king, the serpents, the chief of whom was Vāsuki, installed Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, and went away.

If anyone adores Śiva in that Tīrtha on the Fifth lunar day, all the eight families of Nāgas will never injure him.

One who dies in that Tīrtha, O king, shall become Śiva’s attendant for a long time and stay there as long as he wishes.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is a rehash of the legend of the wager between Kadrū and Vinatā about the colour of the divine horse Uccaiśśravas. The horse was white but Kadrū slated that he was black. To maintain her stand on the colour of the horse, she ordered her sons to assume hair-like forms and cover the body of the horse. Those who refused to do so were cursed with death in fire (Mahābhārata, Ādi. 20.8)