Mahabharata – 55

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                            AdiParva.

As we have already told Garuda had brought nectar from the moon it was an instance of a terrible adventure that reminds us of the adventures in the regions of Greece & Rome. Now he talked to his step brothers------ the countless snakes. Snakes were visibly happy to find nectar brought for them. So Vinata was at once liberated from her servitude. Garuda asked his step brothers to go & bathe presently before they take nectar. They rushed away to have a bath & cleansed themselves.Back from the bath they rushed to take nectar. One snake tried to out run the  other  to reach the nectar. But alas! To their utter dismay they found that there was no nectar for them to drink. They went mad & started licking the Kusha grass on which the vessels full of nectar were placed. Since the kusha grass had held the vessels of nectar it is deemed to be sacred. During sacrifice & rituals of worshiping kusha grass therefore widely used among the Hindus. However licking the kusha grass the snakes had their tongues split into two. Because the edge of kusha grass as sharp as blade.The snakes felt deceived. Be that as it may, Vinata is now free from servitude. Those who  hear or read this episode with all attention will attain lot of spiritual wealth.

Be that as it may Saunaka asked Sauti the narrater to tell us the names of the  serpents who figure significantly among the clans of the snakes. Sauti said that it is difficult to name the principal snakes. They are numerous. But let me name a few of them-- Sesha was born first, and then Vasuki. Then were born Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kalakeya, the serpent Mani, Purana, Pinjaraka, and Elapatra, Vamana, Nila, Anila, Kalmasha, Savala, Aryaka, Ugra, Kalasapotaka, Suramukha, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Karotaka, Samkha, Valisikha, Nisthanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Vahyakarna, Hastipada, Mudgarapindaka, Kamvala Aswatara, Kaliyaka, Vritta, Samvartaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Sankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshemaka, Pindaraka, Karavira, Pushpadanshtraka, Vilwaka. Vilwapandara, Mushikada, Sankhasiras, Purnabhadra, Haridraka, Aparajita, Jyotika, Srivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Virajas, Suvahu, Salipinda, Prabhakara, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumuksha, Kaunapashana, Kuthara, Kunjara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittri, Halika, Kardama, Vahumulaka, Karkara, Akarkara, Kundodara, and Mahodara.