The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 36

Section XXXVI. ( Astika Parva continued. )

Saunaka said, "O child, thou hast named many of the serpents gifted with great energy and incapable of being easily overcome. What did they do after hearing of that curse?" Sauti said, "The illustrious Shesha amongst them, of great renown, leaving his mother, practised hard penances, living upon air and rigidly observing his vows. And he was engaged in these ascetic devotions, having arrived at Gandhamadana, Vadari, Gokarna, the woods of Pushkara, and the foot of Himavat. And he passed his days in those sacred regions, some of which were sacred for their waters and others for their soil, in the rigid observance of his vows, with a singleness of aim and his passions in complete control. And the Grand-father of all saw him—that ascetic with knotted hair and clad in rags, his flesh, skin, and sinews dried up, owing to the hard penances he was practising. And the Grand-father addressing him—that penance-practicing one of firm fortitude, said, 'What is this that thou doest, O Shesha? Let the welfare of the creatures of the worlds also engage thy thoughts. O thou sinless one, thou art afflicting all creatures by thy hard penances. O Shesha, tell me the desire that is implanted in thy breast.'

"And Shesha replied, 'My uterine brothers are all of wicked hearts. I do not desire to live amongst them. Let this be sanctioned by thee. Like enemies, thy are always jealous of one another. I am therefore engaged in ascetic devotions: I will not see them even. They never show any kindness for Vinata and her son. Indeed, Vinata's son, capable of ranging through the skies, is another brother of ours. They always envy him. And he too is much stronger, from the bestowal of the boon by our father—the high-souled Kasyapa. For these, I am engaged in ascetic penances, and I will cast off this body of mine, so that companionship with them I may avoid, even in another state of life.'

"And the Grand-father spake unto Shesha who had said so, 'O Shesha, I know the behaviour of all thy brothers, and their great danger owing to their offence against their mother. But, O Snake, a remedy hath been provided by me even before-hand. It behoveth thee not to grieve for thy brothers. O Shesha, ask then of me the boon that thou desirest. I have been highly gratified with thee and I will grant thee to-day a boon. O thou best of snakes, it is fortunate that thy heart hath been set on virtue. Let thy heart be more and more firmly set on virtue.'

"And Shesha replied, 'O divine Grand-father, this is the boon that is desired by me, that my heart may always joy in virtue and in blessed ascetic penances, O Lord of all!'

"And Brahma said, 'O Shesha, I am exceedingly gratified by this thy self-denial and love of peace. But by my command, let this act be done by thee for the good of my creatures! Holding properly and well this Earth with her mountains and forests, her seas and towns and retreats for enjoyments, so unsteady, remain thou, O Shesha, so that she may be steady!'

"And Shesha said, 'O divine lord of all creatures, grantor of boons, O lord of the Earth, lord of every created thing, lord of the universe, I will, even as thou sayest, hold the Earth steady. Therefore, O lord of all creatures, place thou that on my head.'

"And Brahma said, 'O best of snakes, go thou underneath the Earth. She will herself give thee a crevice to pass through. And, O Shesha, by holding this Earth thou shalt certainly do what is prized by me very greatly.'"

Sauti continued, "And then the elder brother of the king of the snakes entering by a hole passed to the other side of the Earth, and holding her, supports with his head the goddess Earth with her belt of seas going all round.

"And Brahma said, 'O Shesha, best of snakes, thou art the god Dharma, because alone, with thy huge body, thou supportest this Earth taking everything with her, even as I myself or Valavit (Indra) can'."

Sauti continued, "And the snake, the lord Ananta, of great prowess, lives underneath the Earth, alone supporting the world at the command of Brahma. And the illustrious Grand-father, the best of the immortals, then gave unto Ananta the bird of fair feathers—the son of Vinata, for Ananta's help."

And so ends the thirty-sixth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.