Snake Sacrifice and last minute save

Sarpa Yagna and Last Minute Save 

We saw in the last episode about Takshak and his deceit that led to the death of Maharaja Parikshit. Uthanka, who also suffered at the hand of Takshak instigates King Jayamejaya, son of Parikshit to take revenge against Takshak. 

Janamejaya after being repeatedly being told that it was his duty as a son to avenge his father’s death, decides to do a Sarpayagna to kill all the snakes in the world.

So, Janamejaya started the sacrifice with a lot of learned brahmins setting up the yagna shaala (the place where such sacrifice will be held). There are certain rules and regulations that guide the place, dimensions etc of the yagnashaala. The suta who prepared the place warned the king that the place seemed unsuitable and the sacrifice may not get completed. Although disturbed, the king was reassured by the brahmins that things will get done well. As a precaution, the king put heavy security around the place and started the sacrifice.

As the brahmins started the chanting, the serpents from all over the universe were getting dragged towards the yagna. They were unable to resist the pull of the mantras

Seeing the speed with which her clan was depleting, Vasuki the mother snake got worried. She called her nephew Astika and told him to use his prowess to stop this sacrifice that was harming their entire population.

Astika, while worried about the death of his relatives, tells his uncle that he cannot stop a yagna that was being performed as per the Vedic texts unless he understands the background.

Vasuki tells Astika the back story of his birth. Once upon a time, one of our great ancestors Kadru, wife of Kashyapa, had a wager with her sister. As per the wager she said that the tail of the horse Uchchaishrava was black and her sister Vinata said it was white. In order to prove her sister wrong and get her as a slave, Kadru asked our ancestors the snakes to coil around the horse’s tail and make it look black. Some of us did and some of us did not as it was dishonest. Angry at our disobedience, our ancestor Kadru cursed those of us who disobeyed her to die in Janamejaya’s sacrifice.

Knowing fully well that this curse will affect our species, some of us decided to take steps to protect ourselves.

In Bharata Varsha, there used to be a sage called Jaratkaru. He was an ascetic and was not interested in getting married. Once while wandering in the forest, he sees a few souls hanging upside down. He asks them who they were and why they were hanging upside down.

They reply saying that they were waiting for their progeny Jaratkaru to get married and beget children who can do the necessary rituals to make them attain moksha.

Jaratkaru, on hearing this, is sad and ashamed. He said he will get married on two conditions 1. The girl should have the same name as him; 2. The family should give the girl in marriage without any demands.

Snakes falling into the fire

Strange requests, isn’t it? But Vasuki, the snake, who heard this is immensely happy. Why? He had a sister called Manasa of a marriageable age.

When Sage Jaratkaru told Vasuki he did not have any means of supporting his sister as he was a wandering mendicant, Vasuki assured him that he had no demands of the sage and was happy to support the sage and his sister even after her marriage.

Once all these were sorted, Jaratkaru marries Manasa. They continue to live with Vasuki. Vasuki took care of his sister and her husband as promised.

Since Sage Jaratkaru had mainly married to take care of the need of his ancestors. So, he told his wife that anytime she did something that will interfere with his rituals and Vedic duties, he will leave her.

Jaratkaru and his ancestors

One day, the sage was sleeping in his wife’s lap. Not wanting to disturb him she did not wake him up in time for his evening prayers. Finally, she woke him up a bit late as she was worried that he will miss his evening prayers. Angry with his wife for failing in her promise, Sage Jaratkaru retires to the forest. He also blesses her saying that the son she is expecting will be very virtuous and learned.

Snake Vasuki consoles his sister saying that she was expecting a child and she can focus on bringing the child up while she awaits her husband’s return from the forest.

Manasa gave birth to a son soon after and they named him Astika. Vasuki and the other nagas took good care of this boy who was not only their kin but also considered their saviour.

Astika, grew up to be a very pleasant and bright child and learnt all the scriptures from Chyavana, son of Brighu Maharishi.

Manasa stopped narrating the story to her son about his background and birth. She said “My son, you had two roles to fulfil. One for your paternal ancestors in helping them attain moksha. Similarly, you have a role to perform towards your mother and her family too. You are the one who can go and prevent the entire Naga race from getting wiped out by the Sarpa Yagna being performed by King Janamejaya.

Convinced of his duty towards his mother’s family who had taken care of him from birth, Astika, Astika the half snake sage started walking towards Hastinapura.

In the meantime, the pace was picking up in the Yaagashaala. Innumerable snakes from all over the universe were being mercilessly burnt by the yagna fire. While a lot of important as well as nameless snakes were dying, there was no sign of Takshak.

Janamejaya told his priests to increase the pace and volume of the chanting. As directed, they chanted the requisite mantras in one voice. Takshak, who was scared and being dragged towards the fire, sought refuge in the Devalok with Indira. Indira and Takshak were friends. Indra assured him that he will not let any harm come to Takshak.

At some point, the power of the chanting became so much that Indira was also being dragged along with Takshak towards the sacrificial fire.

While all this drama of Takshak holding on to Indira and the brahmins chanting loudly was going on, Astika managed to reach the YaagaShaala at Hastinapur.

As is the practice, the brahmins are honoured and are allowed to bless the king while a sacrifice is going on. The king also grants all the wishes of the brahmins. Astika, being a young boy, attracts the attention of both the king and the gathered brahmins.

Astika sings the praises of Janamejaya and his ancestors. He also displays his knowledge of the scriptures. Pleased with his scholarship and his words, Janamejaya asks him what he desires.

Astika tells him he wants Janamejaya to stop the yagna. Janamejaya tells him that he is unable to agree to his request as the serpents have done a grave wrong to his father.

While the discussion is going back and forth, Indra dragged along with Takshak reaches the sacrificial fire. On seeing Takshak, Janamejaya gets very angry.

On the one hand if he does not grant Astika’s request of stopping the yagna, he would be failing in his duty towards a learned brahmin. On the other, if he grants Astika’s wish he would be failing his father.

Knowing his dilemma Astika explains to him that his father Parikshit pays for his karma of putting a dead snake around a meditating rishi. Dying on that date by a snake bite was his destiny.

Similarly the many snakes that had fallen into the fire where destined to die in the yagna as per the curse of their ancestor Kadru. So he says that it was the duty of a king to respect the way destiny functions and not to interfere in the way things happen.

Hearing this and also encouraged by his court priests, Janamejaya decides to stop the Sarpa Yagna. He also gives Astika many gifts and requests him to guide him and his kingdom.

Thus ends Sarpa Yagna a very interesting and central story in the Mahabharata. While not directly connected to the main plot of Mahabharata as we understand it, it sets the moment when Janamejaya expresses his desire to know more about his ancestors.

Vaishampayana starts the narration of the Mahabharata to the assembly in the presence of Veda Vysasa.