In the previous episode, we had witnessed a huge turn of events for King Janame-Jaya who was performing a “Satra Yaga” in a grand manner. All the important sages and many other key people from all over the country had assembled for this grandeur event. As the “Satra Yaga” proceedings were going on as per the rules and regulations, there was a dog by name “Sarama” that came from the “Deva Lokha” and it was very interested in participating in this event. As the dog came along, people mistook it to be an ordinary one and thus, they thrashed it left, right and center! Bruised and hurt by the people, poor Sarama ran to its mother and narrated the entire accord. Hearing this from her daughter, the mother dog became furious! Her daughter has been punished very badly for no fault of hers! She hurried towards the venue where this “Satra Yaaga” was taking place and with all her fury, inflicted a curse on King Janame-Jaya that he’s going to face an unforeseen and an unexpected problem in the future, that would be extremely detrimental to him and to the kingdom as a whole.
Notwithstanding this curse, King Janame-Jaya was shell-shocked! He did not know what to do for a moment! As time progresses, King Janame-Jaya calms himself down and decides that he should consult a “Purohita” (A well-qualified Pandit) and seek an opinion on how to tackle this issue. It is at this time, a great Sage by name Shruta-Shrava comes along. This sage had a son by name “Soma-Shrava”. This Sage Soma-Shrava was a great Maharishi, just like his father, but the only glitch here is that, he was born to a snake. King Janame-Jaya comes to know the significance of this Sage Soma-Shrava and accordingly approaches Sage Shruta-Shrava thus, “Oh great Sage! I’m entangled into a big problem at the moment. I would like to have the consultation of your son, Sage Soma-Shrava, who is a great sage. I’ve heard a lot about him. So, please can you send him to my place for a few days? I would like to learn from him as to how to tackle this catastrophic situation that I’m in!”
As King Janame-Jaya requests thus, Sage Shruta-Shrava accepts it and agrees to send Sage Soma-Shrava to Hastinapura. However, Sage Shruta-Shrava explains to King Janame-Jaya that if his son has to come along, there is a condition – “Whatever Sage Soma-Shrava asks for, it should be given without fail. He is a “Brahmana-Rishi” and he would do everything to perfection. But if he asks for anything, if not given, it would backfire very badly on you!” King Janame-Jaya readily agreed to this condition as he too was desperate to come out of this curse. Accordingly, Sage Soma-Shrava came along with King Janame-Jaya. As they reached Hastinapura, King Janame-Jaya entrusted Sage Soma-Shrava to be taken care of by his three brothers. He instructs to his brothers thus, “Oh brothers! This is Sage Soma-Shrava! He has come here as our esteemed guest. So it is your responsibility to take care of him with the highest level of hospitality. You should provide him with whatever he asks for. You should never deny anything that he asks! I’m currently going out of town to capture another kingdom. Till I come back, you should ensure his comfort and safety.”
Saying thus, King Janame-Jaya sets off after entrusting Sage Soma-Shrava under his three brothers. King Janame-Jaya proceeds towards the “Takshashila” kingdom. We have this “Takshashila” even today. However, the name has undergone a change and has become “Taxila”. This “Takshashila” was there even during those times of “Dvaapara Yuga”. It is to this “Takshashila” kingdom is King Janame-Jaya going with a huge army. However, by the time King Janame-Jaya came back to Hastinapura, there was a huge problem that was waiting for him back home! So for today, let us understand till this point, and let us wait for the next episode to witness what was that problem that was waiting for King Janame-Jaya! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 