In the previous episode, we had completed all the background events that were surrounding and leading to the “Sarpa-Yaaga” with the culmination of how the snakes endured the curse of their mother, Kadru. Meanwhile, we had also seen the birth of Sage Aasthika to Sage Jarath-Kaaru and Snake Vaasuki’s sister, who also bore the same name. With this, Snake Vaasuki got the assurance from Bhagawan Brahma that with the birth of Sage Aasthika, the huge threat that was looming large for the snakes would come to an end very soon. As years pass by, things are leading in the direction towards the “Sarpa-Yaaga”. It is in this meanwhile, Snake Takshaka bites King Parikshit and he had to die. King Janame-Jaya takes over the reins of King Parikshit and is ruling the Hastinapura kingdom. It is in this meanwhile, King Janame-Jaya is motivated to perform the “Sarpa-Yaaga”.
“Tatah karmah prabhavrithe sarpa satra vidhaanataha!
Paryahkraamancha vidhivath sve sve karmani yaachakaaha!!”
Thus, as all the top Brahmins, Panditas, etc. arrive at Hastinapura one by one, King Janame-Jaya is all set to begin the “Sarpa-Yaaga” in a grand fashion. The entire snake community is tensed up. Snake Vaasuki also has the belief in Bhagawan Brahma’s words, as King Janame-Jaya gets ready for the grand Sarpa-Yaaga.
“Kampanthascha sarveshaam asuraganaam manaamsvicha!
Sarpaanaajugastathra sarvaan agni mukhe tathaa!!”
This is a very important event that is conspiring here – King Janame-Jaya starts the “Sarpa-Yaaga” and starts offering the ghee on to the “Agni-Kunda”. As the proceedings start in a very intense fashion thus, the snakes at the “Naaga-Lokha” were shaking with fear! The sages who have assembled there, along with the Pandithas and the Brahmins were highly powerful and handpicked by King Janame-Jaya for this “Sarpa-Yaaga”. As each offering is poured into the “Agni-Kunda”, the snakes start falling dead one after the other! Panic started gripping the entire “Naaga-Lokha”, and with this, Mother Kadru’s curse started coming true! A huge danger surrounded the snakes in the form of King Janame-Jaya’s “Sarpa-Yaaga” thus!
As this was happening thus, the sages and Brahmins who had assembled there, are increasing the intensity of the “Sarpa-Yaaga” minute after minute. Snake after snake comes and falls into the “Agni-Kunda” and gets burnt! Snake Takshaka and Snake Vaasuki were watching from the “Naaga-Lokha” and were completely speechless! They were anxiously waiting for their turn to go and fall into the “Sarpa-Yaaga”. As the intensity increases thus, Snake Vaasuki was expecting Sage Aasthika to go and stop the “Sarpa-Yaaga”. However, there was no sign of him going anywhere. Upon seeing this, Snake Vaasuki rushes down to meet Sage Aasthika. Snake Vaasuki appeals to Sage Aasthika thus, “Oh great Sage! According to Bhagawan Brahma’s words, your birth in this world is mainly to protect the snakes in the “Naaga Lokha”. King Janame-Jaya is performing an intense “Sarpa-Yaaga” and one snake after the other is going and falling into it! If this continues further, the entire “Naaga Lokha” would be wiped out in no time. The “Sarpa-Yaaga” of King Janame-Jaya is so powerful in nature. So, please go to Hastinapura, do something to stop the “Sarpa-Yaaga” from proceeding further! If this continues this way, you would not be able to see even a single snake alive, including me!”
Meanwhile, the “Sarpa-Yaaga” is going on in full swing. Both King Janame-Jaya and Sage Utthanga who motivated him to go for the “Sarpa-Yaaga” are waiting for Snake Takshaka to come and fall into the “Agni-Kunda”. Snake after snake was coming and falling, but somehow Takshaka wasn’t coming! In some way or the other, Snake Takshaka is dilly-dallying, running here and there and is trying to escape the wrath of the “Sarpa-Yaaga”. Unable to spot and trace Snake Takshaka, Sage Utthanga and King Janame-Jaya increase the intensity of the offering even further, thus, solely targeting Takshaka. Upon seeing this, Takshaka realizes that there is no point running and escaping from these people any further. It is only about time that he has to go and fall into the “Sarpa-Yaaga” and die. Takshaka thinks of a last-minute contingency plan here – He quickly decides that the only way to escape this wrath is to go and surrender to Indra’s feet.
Thinking thus, Takshaka runs and runs! He runs all the way to the “Deva-Lokha”, catches hold of Indra’s chariot wheel tightly and coils around it. Now the situation is such a way that if at all Snake Takshaka has to fall into the “Sarpa-Yaaga”, he would fall along with Indra! Thus, Indra too is now in great danger! Snake Takshaka is not going to leave Indra’s chariot so easily. As the entire “Naaga-Lokha” is caught up with this extreme fear of death, along with Takshaka, Snake Vaasuki rushes to Sage Aasthika and prays to him to save all of them! What happens next? Is Sage Aasthika going to save all of them? Is he going to accept Snake Vaasuki’s request? Is Snake Takshaka’s plan going to work? Let us wait till the next episode to witness the answers to all these questions! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 