The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION XX
(Astika Parva continued)
"Sauti said, 'Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amrita was
churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horse Uchchaihsravas of
great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained. It was this horse about which
Kadru asked Vinata, saying, 'Tell me, amiable sister, without taking much time,
of what colour Uchchaishravas is.' And Vinata answered, 'That prince of steeds
is certainly white. What dost thou think, sister? Say thou what is its colour.
Let us lay a wager upon it.' Kadru replied, then, 'O thou of sweet smiles. I think
that horse is black in its tail. Beauteous one, bet with me that she who loseth
will become the other's slave.'
'Sauti continued, 'Thus wagering with each other about menial service as a
slave, the sisters went home, and resolved to satisfy themselves by examining
the horse next day. And Kadru, bent upon practising a deception, ordered her thousand
sons to transform themselves into black hair and speedily cover the horse's tail
in order that she might not become a slave. But her sons, the snakes, refusing
to do her bidding, she cursed them, saying, 'During the snake-sacrifice of the
wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava race, Agni shall consume you all.' And the
Grandsire (Brahman) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse pronounced by Kadru,
impelled by the fates. And seeing that the snakes had multiplied exceedingly,
the Grandsire, moved by kind consideration for his creatures, sanctioned with
all the gods this curse of Kadru. Indeed, as the snakes were of virulent poison,
great prowess and excess of strength, and ever bent on biting other creatures,
their mother's conduct towards them--those persecutors of all creatures,--was
very proper for the good of all creatures. Fate always inflicts punishment of
death on those who seek the death of other creatures. The gods, having exchanged
such sentiments with one another, supported Kadru's action (and went away). And
Brahman, calling Kasyapa to him, spake unto him these words, 'O thou pure one
who overcomest all enemies, these snakes begotten by you, who are of virulent
poison and huge bodies, and ever intent on biting other creatures, have been cursed
by their mother. O son, do not grieve for it in the least. The destruction of
the snakes in the sacrifice hath, indeed, been ordained long ago' Saying this,
the divine Creator of the Universe comforted Kasyapa and imparted to that illustrious
one the knowledge of neutralising poison."
And so ends the twentieth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
