Chapter 31 - Greatness of Nāga Hrada

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The story of Astika’s birth from a Nāga woman, his successful intervention and stopping of the Sarpa-Satra (Sacrifice of serpents) of king Janamejaya is given in details in Mbh, Ādi. Chs. 13-58 (Astika Parva). The story is adopted here to glorify Nāga Hrada at Hāṭakeśvara.

Sūta said:

1-3. Similarly there is another excellent place Nāga Tīrtha there. One who takes his holy bath there, need not be afraid of serpents anywhere.

If a man takes his holy bath on the fifth lunar day in the dark half of the month of Śrāvaṇa, none in his family need be afraid of any serpent anywhere.

īt was there that penance was performed by Śeṣa and other serpents afflicted by the curse of their mother for the sake of escaping from being burnt in fire.

4. Kaṃbala and Aśvatara, two serpents well-known on the earth, performed severe penance there and attained great Siddhi.

5-6. The following nine are the leaders of serpents referred to as Śeṣa and others. They are (1) Śeṣa, (2) Ananta, (3) Vāsuki, (4) the powerful Takṣaka, (6) Maṇikaṇṭha, (7) Airāvata, (8) Śaṅkha, and (9) the highly poisonous Puṇḍarīka.

7. These had their sons and grandsons. The entire surface of the earth is pervaded by their innumerable, unlimited wealth.

8. These crooked and wicked serpents used to torment people with the sheer multiplicity of their numbers, by their very touch. They ate people for no fault of theirs.

9-10. Thereupon all the subjects sought refuge in Brahmā: “O most excellent one among Sūras, we are all harassed. Save us immediately from these serpents lest the entire surface of the earth should become a void on being fully occupied by all these terrible and extremely poisonous serpents.”

11-13. Thereupon, Brahmā spoke to these nine leading Nāgas beginning with Śeṣa: ‘These subjects are being eaten. Save them from your progeny.” All those serpents promised: “It shall be so” and went away. There was no effective security due to the sheer numerousness of these Nāgas. Though restrained, they, continued destruction of the subjects.

14-17. Brahmā became enraged. He called all the heads of the different families of Nāgas and the Devas. “Since these serpents devour the subjects for no fault of theirs, despite being restrained by me, I shall chastise them now. A king named Janamejaya shall be born on the earth. In his sacrifice Fire-god will consume those serpents. Due to the curse of their mother and particularly being dragged by excellent Brāhmaṇas through their Mantras, they will themselves fall into the well-kindled fire.”

18. On hearing it, the nine leaders of serpents began to tremble. With palms joined in reverence they immediately bowed down and spoke to Pītāmaha:

19. “O holy Sir, our tribe was made crooked by you. Then why do you get angry when they follow their innate predilection?”

Brahmā said:

20. Granting that you were naturally made by me very poisonous indeed, why do you bite and eat these subjects without any offence on their part?

The Nāgas said:

21. O Lord of the Devas, make the line of demarcation between us and the human beings. Or do grant us a spot devoid of human beings.

22. Even as they get burned by the fire in the sacrifice of the son of Parīkṣit do ponder over some means of saving them.

23. It behoves you to do something, O Prapitāmaha, that will avert the total extinction our progeny in all the worlds.

Brahmā said:

24. Somewhere a Brāhmaṇa is to be born who will become famous by the name Jaratkāru. He will be in search of a wife all over the earth for the sake of progeny.

25. In your family a splendid girl called Jarat Kanyā will be born. That girl of excellent complexion should be given to him

(in marriage).

26. The son born to both of them will save the remaining serpents of excellent conduct strictly adhering to the bounds of decency.

27. There are three nether worlds: Sutala, Nitala and Vitala. Your residence shall be in the fourth nether world beneath these.

28. Hence leave off the earth and go to that world of great charm full with all pleasures.

29. At my bidding go there quickly and enjoy all good pleasures in the company of sons and grandsons, the pleasures very difficult for Devas too to acquire.

The Nāgas said:

30. O Lotus-born Lord, we will not be able to stay there enjoying the pleasures. Hence do show us some spot on the earth. We shall stay there keeping up our restrained, elegant association with human beings.

Brahmā said:

31. This lunar date of Pañcamī (fifth) has been allotted to you on the earth. The other period has to be passed by you in Rasātala (Nether World).

32. When you go there, men devoid of defects should not be killed by you; as also those whose limbs have been safeguarded through Mantras and those who have faith in (i.e. use) medicinal herbs.

33. O excellent Nāgas, a permanent residence in the holy spot of Camatkārapura on the earth has been granted by me to prominent serpents of all the serpent races.

Sūta said:

34. On being told thus by Brahmā, the serpents immediately went to the Nether World. The prominent serpents of all the races established themselves at that holy spot.

35. A man who worships them on the fifth lunar day in the month of Śrāvaṇa attains everything desired due to their favour.

36. There shall be no fear of serpents in his family. There shall be no sin, oh ailment, no natural calamity, nor the fear of evil spirits in his family.

37. A man without a son who performs Śrāddha there with a desire for son, will beget an excellent son, and become free, from indebtedness to the ancestors.

38-39a. A barren woman who takes her holy bath on the fifth day particularly in the dark half of Śrāvaṇa, soon begets a son capable of redeeming his race.

The son shall be free from all ailments, full of humility and handsome in features.

39b-40. A man ousted from his kingdom, who takes his holy bath there and worships Nāgas on the fifth day in the month of Śrāvaṇa, will be able to kill the hosts of his enemies and regain his kingdom.

41-42. Those who die due to serpent-bite cannot be rid of ghosthood unless and until Śrāddha is performed in that holy Tīrtha, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. Hence Śrāddha should be performed in that holy spot of serpents, with all efforts on behalf of one who die of a serpent bite.

[Story of Indrasena]

43. In this context I shall narrate unto you a splendid story regarding what happened formerly to a saintly king, Indrasena. The story is destructive of all sins.

44-45. Formerly there was a king named Indrasena who subdued the arrogance of his enemies. That noble-souled one had performed a thousand horse-sacrifices.

Once, by chance, he was lying on his splendid couch when he was bitten by a serpent which left him off immediately. King Indrasena was suddenly deprived of his life.

46. Thereafter, his beloved son performed all obsequies on his behalf with great devotion, as per injuctions in the Smṛtis.

47. He immersed the bones in Gaṅgā and performed sixteen Śrāddhas. Then he went to Gayā and performed the Śrāddha with great faith.

48. The king, his father, appeared in dream. In great sorrow, he spoke to his son whose eyes were turbid due to tears:

49-52. “Dear son, I have attained the state of a Preta (a ghost) ḍue to the fact that I died of serpent bite. Therefore nothing offered by you has come within my reach. Hence do go to the holy spot of Camatkārapura immediately. There, dear son, on my behalf perform Śrāddha unto the serpents. Thereby I shall be rid of the terrible state of a Preta (ghosthood).”

He got up in the morning and remembered the words of the king in the form of a Preta. Distressed due to misery, he hastened to that Tīrtha. He then performed the Śrāddha on the fifth lunar day in the month of Śrāvaṇa.

53-58. With great faith, he took his holy bath after having given assignment to a priest. Again the king, distressed with misery in the form of Preta, appeared to him as on the previous occasion and spoke these words: “O dear son, nothing that was offered by you on my behalf in the form of the benefit of the Śrāddha has been received by me. Listen to the reason thereof. All the Brāhmaṇas hailing from Camatkārapura are worthy of the performance of Śrāddha. Persons of mutilated limbs etc., who are despised (and so excluded from) Śrāddha elsewhere, are not so (excluded) in the case of holy rite or Vrata or Dāna performed here. So also, in the case of other Brāhmaṇical rites such as Yajña etc. Though incomplete, these rites shall be perfect by their words. Those fully performed without their konwledge or presence may become manifestly futile. Hence summon Brāhmaṇas from this city and then perform the Śrāddha in my name, so that liberation can be ensured."

59. He (the prince) got up in the morning. Remembering the words of his father, he was overwhelmed with grief and entered the excellent city.

60. He went in search of deserving Brāhmaṇas for the rite of Śrāddha. In spite of his effort, he did not come across one because all the Brāhmaṇas were rich and affluent.

61. No one was distressed there. No one was impoverished and miserable there. No one was engaged in unholy activities. Nor was there anyone engaged in heresy.

62. Recitation of the Vedic passages was the pastime of the people in different places. They discussed the Smṛti topics. There were tumultuous festivities in every house.

63. The performers of Yajña rites were diligent and their utterances in the course of their rites could be heard everywhere. There was no trace of famine or ailment anywhere. Premature death was not heard at all. In fact in that city resorted to by the Brāhmaṇas, there was no death at all.

64. Clouds showered rains in the proper seasons. The production of vegetation was superb. Cows yielded plenty of milk. Goats and sheep too produced good supply of milk.

65. The king requested some Brāhmaṇas to become the priests in his Śrāddha only to be rebuked angrily with harsh words. That was the case with everyone, he requested for.

66-67. “Fie upon you, O base Kṣatriya of sinful activities! Does any Brāhmaṇa partake of the food in a Śrāddha here and that too in one concerning a Preta? Hence go away from here before some Brāhmaṇa curses you or even kills you angrily, because you happen to be an obstacle in the path to heaven.”

Sūta said:

68. Thereupon the king became distressed, frightened and excessively ashamed. He went out of that city of Camatkārapura.

69. The eminent king recollected that former state of his father and began to ponder: ‘What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will my father attain liberation?’

70. Then he sent away all his ministers back home. Alone he stayed there in the same excellent city in the form of a mendicant.

71-72. He got the information that there was a Brāhmaṇa of esteemed holy vows named Devaśarman in that city there. Among all the leading Brāhmaṇas, he was the most endowed with civility. He was affectionate towards those who sought refuge in him. He had mastered the four Vedas and maintained the sacrificial fires. He strictly followed the path enjoined by the Smṛtis.

73. He got up very early in the morning and assumed the guise of a base-born labourer. With very great difficulty, he cleaned the part of the house where the toilet was situated.

74. The sweeper who regularly carried out the task of removal of faeces there, came there, with eyes reddened with anger and said:

75. “Wherefrom have you come with the intention of depriving me of my means of sustenance? Go away quickly.”

76. In spite of the other man’s protests, the king forcibly continued the task of cleaning the toilet of Devaśarman.

77. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, this went on for a year, at the end of which the Cāṇḍāla bowed down to the Brāhmaṇa from a distance and spoke to him at an opportune moment.

78. “O master, I am the regular sweeper of rubbish of your house. That work belongs to us. Then why is another one employed therein?”

79. On hearing his words, the excellent Brāhmaṇa said: “No other person has been directed by me to do this job reserved for slaves. The right thereof is yours. You carry on as before.”

80. The next day, the Cāṇḍāla came there in excessive fury, armed with a weapon to kill the king.

81-82. On seeing him with the weapon lifted up in his hand with the intention of striking, the king playfully hit him on the head repeatedly with his fist. O Brāhmaṇas, his eyes were dislodged immediately. Much blood flowed down and he fell down dead.

83. On hearing that his servant, the Cāṇḍāla, was killed by him, Devaśarman arrived at the spot in great anger for chastising him.

84. With the help of his sons, grandsons and other kinsmen, he struck him with clods of clay and rebuked him frequently.

85. On being struck thus by repeated blows he was shattered and rendered disabled. Thereupon, he displayed his sacred thread and recited Vedic Mantras.

86. On seeing him engaged in the recitation of Vedic Mantras, all those Brāhmaṇas with Devaśarman at their head, became surprised.

87-89. He was asked: “How incongruous is this! Here is a job befitting only the base-born and there is the Vedic recital with clarity of tone and sweetness of voice! Could it be that you are an excellent Brāhmaṇa fallen through some curse? That may be the reason whereby you do this menial job despised even by base ones?”

Thereupon he laughingly said: “I am a Kṣatriya and a king well-known as Viṣṇusena hailing from the family of the Haihayas. It was for the purpose of propitiating the Lord that I came to this holy spot. A year has now been completed since I have been doing this work.”

Sūta said:

90. On hearing his words, the Brāhmaṇa became very compassionate. Respectfully joining together his palms, he spoke to the king:

91-92. “What is that purpose for which this despicable, menial job was performed by you? Do mention it so that I can fulfil your desire. O king, there is nothing inaccessible to me or impossible for me to accomplish. Hence I shall carry out what you wish to do even if it be very difficult to perform.”

The king said:

93-94. My father was bitten by a serpent. He has attained the state of a Preta. If a Śrāddha is performed here in this Nāgahrada, he may attain salvation. Hence, in order to redeem him, kindly perform the duty of a presiding Brāhmaṇa priest. It is for this sake that this despicable, menial job was done by me.

Devaśarman said:

95. Do so, O excellent king. I shall myself officiate as the Brāhmaṇa priest in the Śrāddha of your father. So, perform the Śrāddha.

Sūta said:

96-97. Thereat, his friends, sons, grandsons and kinsmen said: “It is not proper for you to partake of the food in the despised Śrāddha. So, in case you eat in the Śrāddha, all of us and other excellent Brāhmaṇas as well, will leave you (excommunicate you).”

Devaśarman said:

98. Well! You as well as other Brāhmaṇas may leave me. I have promised to partake of the food in the Śrāddha of this king.

99. After saying thus, the leading Brāhmaṇa accompanied him to the Nāgahrada and partook of the food in the Śrāddha.

100. Immediately after he had partaken of the food, an unembodied voice said, delighting the king and making the entire world reverberate.

101. “Dear son, I have been rid of the state of Preta, by your effort. Hail unto you! I shall now go to heaven.”

102-104. After concluding the rite, the delighted king bowed down to the excellent Brāhmaṇa and said: “Kindly do as I tell you, O excellent Brāhmaṇa. There is a city on the banks of Narmadā named Māhiṣmatī. O holy Sir, that is our hereditary capital city. I shall grant it to you, O Brāhmaṇa, along with the entire realm. I shall be your servant. Stay there, and do administer the kingdom free from all obstacles.”

Devaśarman said:

105. This is not proper to say. No Brāhmaṇa is capable of ruling a kingdom. So, go back to your realm and rule.

Sūta said:

106. Being sent away thus by him, the king went back to his land with great delight, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. He considered himself blessed with his task fulfilled.

107. Devaśarmā was, of course, excommunicated by all the Brāhmaṇas of the city. He was an outcaste (according to them) in view of the defect inherent in that (kind of) Śrāddha.

108. Thereupon, he (Devaśarmā) built his abode at the Nāga Hrada. Remaining pure and clean, he engaged himself in self-study of the Vedas.

109. O excellent Brāhmaṇas! All the sons and the progeny of that Brāhmaṇa who had been excommunicated but continued to stay there were called Bāhyavāsins (who stay outside the city).

110. Thus the greatness of Nāga Hrada has been entirely narrated to you, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. It is destructive of all sins.

111. If a person reads with great ardour or listens to this on a fifth lunar day. There shall be no fear arising from serpents in his family.

112. Similarly, O Brāhmaṇas, he shall undoubtedly get rid of sins arising out of indiscriminate intake of food unknowingly done. What I say is the truth.

113. Hence the excellent greatness of Nāga Hrada should be read and listened to assiduously by persons with due mental concentration.

114. A Brāhmaṇa who reads this at the time of Śrāddha obtains the complete benefit arising from Gayā Śrāddha.

115-117. Many defects have been mentioned in regard to Śrāddhas arising from the materials used, defects in the observance of holy vows and the Brāhmaṇas officiating therein. All these defects perish when the greatness of Nāgahrada is glorified by persons of great concentration and mental purity, during the Śrāddha. Similarly those who have been killed by cows, Brāhmaṇas or beasts of prey, attain the greatest goal when this is read in the course of a Śrāddha.