Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 15

Dundhuba chastises Ruru

Dundhuba said, ‘Why do you want to kill me?’

Astonished at hearing a snake speak, Ruru said, ‘I have vowed to eliminate the entire snake species’.

‘We dundhubas are snakes only in name. We do not bite. In obtaining harm all are equal; only in fortune they differ. In sorrows all are equal but in joys they are different. Follow your dharma. Stop harming us.’

Realizing that a Muni was talking to him, Ruru asked, ‘Who are you?’

The snake said, ‘I am Muni Sahasrapad. I had a friend Khagama who was diligent in austerities. His words always turned true. Once when he was absorbed in fire-worship, playfully I threw a grass-snake on him. He fainted in shock. Upon waking up he cursed, ‘Since you have startled me with a mock snake, may you transform into a poison-less snake’.

Knowing his supernatural powers, I begged his pardon. He relented and said, ‘Pramati’s son Ruru will free you of the curse’. Suddenly Dundhuba vanished and a Muni stood in its place.

Remember: Never frighten anyone, not even a close friend. In that shock, he may lose his life; get fits or get diseased.

Muni Sahasrapad said, ‘Ruru, non-violence is the highest dharma. Non-violence, truthfulness, peace, endurance and protecting all forms of life are qualities of a Brahmin.

A Brahmin should not follow Kshatriya duties of punishing or ruling. Earlier, the virtuous Astika stopped Janmejaya’s sarpa yaga and protected the snakes. When Mahatmas strive to protect the species, your vow to eliminate them is sinful. Stop this’.

Ruru obeyed him. He was now eager to know more about sarpa yaga and Astika Maharishi. Saying, ‘Astika’s story is very supreme. Hear it from a Muni’- the saint vanished. Ruru combed the forests for him, but in vain. Exhausted, he returned home. His father then narrated Janmejaya’s story to him’- said Maharishi Suta.

Śounaka asked, ‘Who was Janmejaya and why did he conduct a sarpa yaga? Who was Astika and how did he stop the yaga?’

Suta said, ‘Astika’s pious story destroys all sins. Listen to it. Astika’s father Jaratkara, of the Yāyavāra lineage, was focussed only on liberation. Engaged in intense austerities, he was always travelling.

During his travels once he saw his ancestors hanging upside-down from a tree branch. A rat had eaten away all other ropes and only 1 rope was holding them to the tree. If this rope would be chewed away, they would fall into a deep pit.

When asked, they said, ‘As our Yāyavāra lineage is coming to an end, we are falling into hell. If Jaratkara fails to get a child, we are sure to fall down’.

Pitying them, Jaratkara asked, ‘What should I do to save you from this predicament?’

‘Beget children. Continue the lineage. Send us to heaven’.

Jaratkara agreed on the condition that the girl he marries should have same name as him and that she should be offered to him by her relatives. He resumed his journey.

One day serpent-king Vasuki offered his sister whose name was Jaratkaru. Jaratkara married her. Their son Astika was a supreme ascetic; epitome of equanimity and he absolved the fear for both his maternal and paternal relatives. He halted the sarpa yaga and saved the snakes from getting burnt. He studied under Cyavana Maharishi’.

Maharishi Śounaka was not happy with this abridged story. He said, ‘Please narrate the entire story’.

Maharishi Suta said, ‘This story pertains to Satya yuga. Daksha’s daughters Kadru and Vinata, were wives of Kashyapa. One day they prayed to their husband for progeny. Kashyapa said, ‘choose what you want’.

Kadru wanted 1000 snakes – all equal in might and radiance. Vinata wanted only 2 sons who were more powerful than Kadru’s sons.

Kashyapa blessed them. Saying, ‘Safeguard your wombs’ he left for penance. Soon thereafter Kadru delivered 1000 eggs. Vinata delivered 2 eggs. All the eggs were preserved in ghee-pots.

500 years elapsed. Kadru’s sons were born. Vinata was upset that her sons had not emerged from their eggs. In anxiety, she broke 1 egg. From it emerged a boy. Only his top-half was ready. He had no thighs and legs. In anger he said, ‘O mother! Envious at seeing your co-sister’s children, you broke my egg even before I had developed. For acting hastily, may you become her slave for 500 years!’