In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bheemasena encountering snake Nahusha deep inside the forest. As Bheemasena is roaming around the forest alone, he encounters a huge python sitting at a distance. Upon wondering what a python is doing in this place, Bheemasena comes closer to it. As Bheemasena comes closer, the python thinks that today it has got a huge prey and is getting ready to feast on Bheemasena. Unknowing of a python’s characteristics, Bheemasena comes closer and closer and finally gets into the python’s tangle. He tries to attack the python with all his strength, however, the python strengthens its grip over him. The python starts swirling around him and with every swirl, Bheemasena is getting crushed in between the python’s huge body! As Bheemasena tries to attack it further, the swirl becomes more intensified and at one stage, Bheemasena is about to be crushed to death!
It is at this time, the python speaks to Bheemasena for the first time. The python says thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Did you think that I’m just an ordinary snake lying here simply? I’m none other than Nahusha, who was a great king earlier. However, due to a curse from Sage Agastya I’m lying here as a snake. I’m not just an ordinary snake as you think, which can be easily destroyed. My power is extremely immense and you will not be able to encounter it easily!” As Bheemasena listens to Nahusha’s accord, he is first amused and surprised! How can a snake talk like this? He has never seen a snake talking till this day and it is the first time he is seeing that. Even though his body is getting crushed by the minute, he is not really minding that. Thinking this way, Bheemasena replies to snake Nahusha thus, “Oh Nahusha! I understand that you’ve obtained a curse and you’re in the form of a python. However, why are you crushing me now? What wrong did I do to you? I never attacked you in the first place. It was you who started crushing me first. If I die of your strength, my four other brothers including the great Yudishtra would feel very sorry. Moreover, Arjuna has just now come back from the “Svarga Lokha” after a long time. If I’ve to fall prey to your hunger, Yudishtra and Co. will feel very bad about this. Hence, please leave me now!”
As Bheemasena pleads thus, snake Nahusha replies, “Oh Bheemasena! Usually if a prey comes to my fold in the evening, I never leave the opportunity to let it escape – be it a huge elephant or even a ferocious lion! All are equal in my eyes, including human beings. Nobody till today has escaped my strength and power. You’re afterall one small Bheemasena, who is just another prey for me for the day. Hence, I’m not going to leave you!” As Bheemasena listens to this, he feels helpless. He pleads again to the snake to leave him, as he has got some important assignments to fulfil in his life. Responding to Bheemasena’s repeated requests, Snake Nahusha replies thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Do one thing. There is a solution to this problem – If I’ve to get relieved of my curse, I shall ask a few questions to the person whom I’ve captured. If you give the right answers to my questions, my curse will be nullified and with this, I would regain my original form as a human being. In turn, you would also be relieved from my clutches. Maybe, try to answer my questions one by one, and let us see what happens!”
As snake Nahusha says thus, Bheemasena replies back, “Oh Nahusha! Till date, I’ve never answered anybody’s questions. All I know is to use my physical strength and raw muscle power to fight and win over my enemies. On one hand you’re trying to crush me more and more by the minute, and on the other hand, you’re going to ask me questions! This is simply ridiculous! So what are your questions? I shall try and answer to the best of my knowledge!” Hearing thus, Snake Nahusha starts asking – “Oh Bheemasena! As I’m squeezing your body, your mind is getting disturbed, isn’t it? So here’s my first question – At critical junctures like these, should a person’s mind get disturbed or not?”
As Snake Nahusha asks this question, Bheemasena has to give a reply here – If he says “Yes! My mind is getting disturbed!”, it would be a wrong answer and the grip on Bheemasena is only going to increase further! However, if he says “No! My mind is not getting disturbed!”, it would be like he is going to tell a lie! Now what is Bheemasena going to reply here? Let us witness this interesting accord in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 