River Ganga returned Devavrata to Shantanu. He was skillful. He was better than his father in martial arts. He was a virtuous young chap. No wonder, everybody liked him. Everybody thought he is the future of Hastinapur. He was crowned as prince of Shantanu’s throne as well.
Destiny finds those who listen, and fate finds the rest:
Shantanu fell in love again. This time, Fisher women Satyavati has captivated his lover mind. He asked her to marry him immediately. This is Shantanu’s love 2.0.
Destiny has its own destination. Satyavati had her own destination too. Like Ganga, Satyavati is ready to agree for a marriage, if her conditions are fulfilled. Life is interesting because you will never guess what will happen in your next moment. Life is terrific because you will never guess what will happen in your next moment. It was terrific for Shantanu.
Satyavati
Shantanu is not ready to offer this promise. Other than Shantanu, who will know the problem in unconditional acceptance of a condition. He did not want to repeat the same mistake he did with Ganga. At the same time, he did not forget the fisher lady. His health was affected by the ordeal.
Shantanu and Satyavati, Raja Ravi Varma. Picture credit: wikipedia
Devavrata understood this. He get in to the scene. He vowed. He promised Satyavati that he will abandon Hastinapur’s plan of making him as the successor of his father’s throne. So Satyavati should be relaxed as if Indian election candidate felt relaxed after bribing the voters.
Devavrata’s vow, Madhubani painting (c) The Illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India
While most of the Indian voters are happy with the standard bribing money, few of the voter will be highly demanding. Satyavati’s father was like that. When Satyavati thought about present days, he thought about future. He asked Devavrata, what if Devavrata’s sons fight with Satyavati’s sons later? Here comes the next Vow from Devavrata. He promised that he would never get married and he would not be with a woman and he would never father a child. Devavrata’s vow surprised many, which included the deva-s and God-s. They showered flowers on him.
Devavrata vow, Raja Ravi Varma. Picture credit: Quora
O king of fishermen! O supreme among kings! Listen to these words of mine. In front of these lords of the earth, hear what I have to say for my father’s sake. O lord of men! I have already relinquished my right to the kingdom. I will not destroy the doubt that has arisen about my sons. O fisherman! From today, I take the vow of brahmacharya, Even if I die without a son, I will attain the eternal world of heaven.
– The Mahabharata: Volume 1, Volume 1, Translated by Bibek Debroy
But the vow, changed the future of Hastinapur, but not in a positive way.
Puru’s descendant is Pratiba. Pratiba’s son was Shantanu. Shantanu’s story is version 2 of Pururavas. Pratiba gave up his throne renounce his worldly pleasures. He had two sons. Devapi and Shantanu. Devapi had skin disease. As a norm, persons with a physical defect should not be crowned as a King. So he made Shantanu as king of Hastinapur and left.
Devapi does not want to live under the shadow of his younger brother. He left Hastinapur and chose to live in exile.
One day, Shantanu was roaming around the banks of river Ganga. There he saw a charming maiden – Ganga. He did not think about anything else. He fell in love with her immediately as he was taken away by her beauty. He told her ‘Be my wife’ immediately.
O beautiful one! O one with the slender waist! Are you from the race of gods, demons, gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas or pannagas, or are you human? You seem to be born of the gods. Whoever you are, please be my wife. Tamil Translation: அழகானவளே! மெல்லிடையாளே! நீ தேவர்கள், அசுரர்கள், கந்தர்வர்கள், அப்சரஸ்கள், யக்ஷர்கள் அல்லது பன்னகர்கள் இனத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவளா அல்லது நீ மனித குலப் பெண்ணா? நீ தெய்வப் பிறவி போல் தெரிகிறது. நீ யாராக இருந்தாலும், தயவுசெய்து என் மனைவியாக இரு.
– Shantanu to Ganga, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Shantanu and Ganga, alamy.com
She too agreed immediately without any hesitation. But the marriage was based on a condition. Ganga does not want Shantanu to question her for any her doings. Shantanu did not think about anything other than the married life with her. He agreed without reluctance.
O lord of the earth! I will be your queen and will obey your words. O king! But you must not interfere in my acts, regardless of whether they please or displease you. You must never try to stop me or speak to me harshly. O king! As long as you act in the way I have asked you to, I will be with you. But I will certainly leave you whenever you try to stop me or speak to me harshly.
Tamil translation: இந்நிலத்தின் மன்னவ! நான் உனது அரசியாக இருப்பேன், உன் சொற்களுக்குக் கீழ்ப்படிவேன். அரசே! ஆனால் உனக்குப் பிடித்தாலும் அல்லது பிடிக்காவிடினும் நீ என் செயல்களில் தலையிடக்கூடாது. நீ ஒருபோதும் என்னைத் தடுக்கவோ, என்னிடம் கடுமையாகப் பேசவோ முயற்சிக்கக் கூடாது. அரசே! நான் கேட்டபடி நீ செயல்படும் வரை நான் உன்னுடன் இருப்பேன். ஆனால் நீ என்னைத் தடுக்க முயற்சித்தாலோ அல்லது என்னிடம் கடுமையாகப் பேசினாலோ நான் உறுதியாக உன்னை விட்டு விலகுவேன்.
– Ganga to Shantanu, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Shantanu and Ganga. Picture credit: Quora
Ganga gave birth to their first son. But she took the newborn away and drowned him in the river. Shantanu was shocked. The new born was suppose to take over his crown later. But it was too late. The new born could not come back. Ganga repeated this for their next kiddo too. Another one.. Another one… wah!
Shantanu lost his patience at last. He stopped Ganga and shouted at her before she throw the eighth child. Ganga paused for a while and smiled at him. She proclaimed that Shantanu broke his promise to her.
Do not kill him. Who are you? Who do you belong to? Why do you kill your sons? As a murderer of your sons, you are committing a great sin. O evil one! Do not commit sin. Desist.
Tamil Translation: அவனைக் கொல்லாதே. யார் நீ? நீ யாரைச் சேர்ந்தவள்? உன் மகன்களை ஏன் கொன்றாய்? உனது மகன்களைக் கொன்று, நீ பெரும் பாவத்தைச் செய்கின்றாய். தீயவளே! பாவம் செய்யாதே. விலகு.
Shantanu to Ganga, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Ganga, Shantanu and Vasu
Those kids were vasu-s – Gods been cursed to born as humans due to the curse of Rishi Vashishtha. They seek help of Ganga to born in this earth. She helped seven of them. She could not help the eighth vasu, as Shantanu stopped her. So the eight child should now then. But she told Shantanu that that eighth son will not inherit his throne; he will not have a family; still he would be forced to be within the family; finally he would die at the hands of a man who is actually be a woman.
Since you desire a son, I will not kill this son. You will become the supreme father of a son. But following our agreement, my stay here has come to an end. I am Ganga, the daughter of Jahnu and worshipped by large numbers of maharshis. I have lived with you so far to accomplish the wishes of the gods.
Tamil Translation: நீர் உன் மகனை விரும்புவதால், நான் இந்த மகனைக் கொல்ல மாட்டேன். நீர் ஒரு மகனுக்கு உயர்ந்த தந்தையாக மாறுவீர். ஆனால் நம் உடன்படிக்கை மீறிப்பட்டதனால் தொடர்ந்து நான் இங்கு தங்கியிருப்பது முடிவுக்கு வந்தது. நான் கங்கை, ஜஹ்னுவின் மகள் மற்றும் ஏராளமான முனிவர்களால் வணங்கப்பட்டவள். தேவர்களின் விருப்பத்தை நிறைவேற்றவே இதுவரை உன்னுடன் வாழ்ந்தேன்.
– Ganga to Shantanu, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Disappointed Shantanu was confident to stop that to happen to his eighth son. But Ganga told him that he might be a king, but even he could not change what was decided to happen already. She disappeared with her son then.
Ganga Bhishma (c) Raja ravi varma heritage foundation
Ganga sent back her son after he attained the right age to marry and assume the throne. Before that he learnt martial arts from Parashurama. He had been named as Devavrata. People of Hastinapur loved him so much and expected him to succeed Shantanu. But what Ganga told earlier was waiting to happen.
When Yayati went to forest, he went deep into it. He heard a voice of a woman inside the forest. He followed the path towards that voice. It came from a well. There was a maiden inside a well, screamed for help to come out. Yayadi extended a helping hand to Devayani.
Amar Chitra Katha – wrapper
Devayani was the daughter of Shukra Acharya, the guru of asura-s. Sharmistha was her close friend. Sharmistha was the daughter of asura king Vrishparva.
One day, Devayani and Sharmistha went to bath in a well in the nearby forest. A minor conflict between them became a game changer. Devayani and Sharmistha’s robes were interchanged by mistake. Devyani took it as a serious breach. Sharmistha pushed Devayani inside the water body after a harsh conversation, before she left the place. Yayati came later to rescue her.
O daughter of the Asura (chief), why dost thou take my attire, being, as thou art, my disciple? As thou art destitute of good behaviour, nothing good can happen to thee! அசுரர் தலைவனின் மகளே, நீ என் சிஷ்யையாக இருந்தும், ஏன் என் உடையை எடுத்துக்கொள்கிறாய்? நீ நல்ல நடத்தை இல்லாதவளாக இருப்பதால், உனக்கு நல்லது எதுவும் நடக்காது!
– Devyani to Sharmistha, Sambhava Parva
Though they are thick friends, the both of them think they are superior, Devyani by her renunciation and Sharmishtha by her power.
Thy father occupying a lower seat, always adoreth with downcast looks, like a hired chanter of praises, my father, whether he sitteth at his ease or reclineth at full length! Thou art the daughter of one that chanteth the praises of others, of one that accepteth alms. I am the daughter of one who is adored, of one who bestoweth alms instead of ever accepting them! Beggar-woman as thou art, thou art free to strike thy breast, to use ill words, to vow enmity to me, to give way to thy wrath. Acceptress of alms, thou weepest tears of anger in vain! If so minded, I can harm thee, but thou canst not. Thou desirest to quarrel. But know thou that I do not reckon thee as my equal! என் தந்தை, நிம்மதியாக அமர்ந்தாலும் அல்லது முழு நீளமாக சாய்ந்தாலும், கீழ் இருக்கையில் அமர்ந்திருக்கும் உனது தந்தை, எப்பொழுதும் தாழ்ந்த தோற்றத்துடன், கூலிக்கு துதி பாடுபவர் போல. நீ பிறர் புகழ் பாடும் ஒருவரின் மகள், பிச்சை ஏற்கும் ஒருவரின் மகள். போற்றப்படுபவரின் மகள் நான், எதையும் பிறரிடம் பெறாமல் தானம் செய்பவரின் மகள்! யாசகம் பெறுபவரின் பெண்ணே, நீ உன் மார்பில் அடித்துக்கொள்ளவும், தவறான வார்த்தைகளைப் பிரயோகிக்கவும், எனக்கு விரோதமாகச் சபதம் செய்யவும், உனது கோபத்திற்கு வழிவிடவும் சுதந்திரம் பெற்றவள். அன்னதானத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்பவளே, வீணாகக் கோபத்தால் கண்ணீர் வடிக்கிறாய்! நினைத்தால், நான் உனக்கு தீங்கு செய்ய முடியும், ஆனால் உன்னால் முடியாது. நீ சண்டையிட விரும்புகிறாய். ஆனால் நான் உன்னை எனக்கு இணையாகக் கருதவில்லை என்பதை நீ அறிந்துகொள்!
– Sharmistha to Devyani, Sambhava Parva
Devyani being rescued from the well by Yayati, painting by BP Banerjee.- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devayani
Devayani complained to her father Shukracharya. Shukara was angry. He refused to perform any yagna-s until Sharmistha apologizes. In addition, Devayani wanted Sharmistha to serve her as a maid. What a grudge!! Not performing yagna-s may weaken the king against his enemies. So the king was left without any choices. He sent his princess as a maid to the daughter of his Guru.
DEVYANI YAYATI RAJA – Ravi Vaibhav
Yayati hold Devyani’s hand when he rescued her from well surrounded by woods. It was agreed as their marriage. A daughter of an acharya became the empress of Hastinapur now. Out of her grudge, Devyani wanted Sharmistha to follow her to Hastinapur as her maid.
Fate did not get out of Devayani’s life. She paid a heavy price for her grudge. She thought Sharmistha will be jelous about her. But what happened was something different.
Devayani was mere a daughter of an Acharya. But Sharmistha was a princess. Her personality attracted Yayati. We know about Chandravamsha kings and their stories. Yayati is not different from them. He married Sharmistha secretly.
O son of Nahusha, no one can behold the ladies that dwell in the inner apartments of Soma, of Indra, of Vishnu, of Yama, of Varuna, and of thee! Thou knowest, O king, that I am both handsome and well-born. I solicit thee, O king! My season hath arrived. See that it goeth not in vain. நஹுஷனின் மகனே! சோமன், இந்திரன், விஷ்ணு, யமன், வருணன் மற்றும் உன்னுடைய ஆழ்மனதில் வசிக்கும் பெண்களை யாராலும் பார்க்க முடியாது! அரசே, நான் அழகாகவும், நற்குடியில் பிறந்தவளாகவும் இருக்கிறேன் என்பதை நீ அறிவாய். நான் உன்னிடம் வேண்டுகிறேன் அரசே! எனது பருவம் வந்துவிட்டது. அது வீண் போகாமல் பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்.
Sharmistha to Yayati, Sambhava Parva
Devayani was unaware of this. When Sharmistha’s children called Yayati as father, she understood everything.
O thou of sweet smiles, all that I told thee of a Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the precepts of virtue, and therefore, do I not fear thee. When thou hadst chosen the king for thy husband, I, too, chose him as mine. O beautiful one, a friend’s husband is, according to usage, one’s own husband as well. Thou art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest my worship and regard. But dost thou not know that this royal sage is held by me in greater esteem still? இனிமையான புன்னகை உடையவளே, ஒரு ரிஷி பற்றி நான் உன்னிடம் கூறியது முற்றிலும் உண்மை. நான் நல்லொழுக்கத்தின் விதிகளின்படி சரியாகவும் நடந்து கொண்டேன், எனவே நான் உனக்கு அஞ்சமாட்டேன். நீ உன் கணவனாக ராஜாவைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தபோது, நானும் அவனை என்னுடையவனாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தேன். அழகானவளே, ஒரு தோழியின் கணவர், வழமையின்படி, தன் சொந்தக் கணவரும் கூட. நீ ஒரு பிராமணனின் மகள், எனவே, என் வணக்கத்திற்கும் மரியாதைக்கும் தகுதியானவள். ஆனால், இந்த அரச முனிவரை நான் இன்னும் அதிகமாக மதிக்கிறவள் என்பது உனக்குத் தெரியாதா?
-Sharmistha to Devayani, Sambhava Parva
Yayati and Sharmistha tried their best to justify and sooth her, but in vain. Devayani left Yayati and back to her father. Shukracharya cursed Yayati with old age and impotence. Later he modified the curse in a way that he can get back to younger age if any of his sons take back his old age. Else, the curse will affect his own daughter as well. Which lady will be ready to live with a old man?
The cursed Yayāti begs forgiveness of Shukracharya – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayati
Yayati asked his sons. None accepted except Puru, the youngest. Puru accepted the curse suffering old age and impotence while Yayati became youth and virility.
Few years later, Yayati felt enough of his youthful life and released Puru from curse. He made Puru as the king as well. He cursed other elder sons for not sharing the burden of their fathers.
Prosperity be thine! Receive back this thy youth! Receive thou also my kingdom. Thou art, indeed, that son of mine who has done me the greatest services. செழிப்பு உனக்கே! இந்த இளமையை திரும்ப பெற்றுக்கொள்! நீயும் என் அரசை ஏற்றுக்கொள். எனக்கு மிகப் பெரிய சேவை செய்த என் மகன் நீயே.’
– Yayati to Puru, Sambhava Parva
sharmistha push devyani – https://mysutradhar.comsharmista became Devayani’s maid – https://mysutradhar.comYayati Devayani’s wedding – https://mysutradhar.comDevyani came to know about Yayati-Sharmistha relationship – https://mysutradhar.com
Shakuntala’s story is yet another disappointing one of Chandravamsha. King Kausika was a Suryavamshi King. He wanted to be the the most powerful. He renounced all his wealth and wishes. He started his penance and meditation to attain his wish. Indra – the coward conspirer in Pururavas story – afraid that Kausika will be a threat to his throne. He did another conspiracy. He sent Menaka , an apsara – the celestial dancer – to lure Kausika and derail him from his ambitions.
Kausika succumbed to Menaka’s charm. He turned down his penance for her. They had a union and Menaka gave birth to a beautiful daughter. There comes the guilt. Kausika hate himself and Menaka. For him this child a proof of failure. For Menaka, this child is yet another symbol of her victory. Both abandoned the child.
Shakun birds kept her safe under their wings. Sage Kanva rescued her and named after Shakun birds – Shakuntala. The innocent child grown as beautiful, coy and young lady in Kanva’s ashram which was surrounded by beautiful trees and animals.
King Dushyanta – descendant of Pururavas – visited Kanva’s ashram one day. Unfortunately Kanva was out of station for few months (or years?), as there were no options for quick travel like what we have in this generation. Dushyanta liked Shakuntala as she was very beautiful. He asked Shakuntala if she can marry her. Shakuntala – as a well taught girl – asked him to get permission from Kanva. He still insisted gandhava vivaha – to marry by keeping the trees as a proof of their marriage. He persuaded and won finally. Shakuntala agreed.
“Oh beautiful one! Be my wife. Oh lovely one! Oh timid one! …! Marry me according to Gandharva rites, because it is said that a Gandharva marriage is the best.” “ஓ அழகானவளே! என்னுடைய மனைவியாயிரு. ஓ அன்பே! அட பயந்தவளே! …! கந்தர்வ முறைப்படி என்னை மணந்து கொள், ஏனென்றால் கந்தர்வ திருமணமே சிறந்தது என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.
They married each other by keeping the trees as proof. They lived happily as a couple in Kanva’s ashram. Kanva did not return. Soon, Dushyanta need to return. He promised to come back to take her with him with Kanva’s approval. He asked her to show their wedding ring whenever she meet him (just because he had so many such encounters so that he can not realize each one??)
shakuntala/ Raja Ravi Varma/1930/fineartamerica.com
Shakuntala was in deep love with him. She was waiting and waiting for him. Dushyanta’s thoughts were pervasive in her mind. One day, she was in dream near a stream with her hand inside the water, when the angry-rishi Durvasa visited the ashram. She did not realize and did not pay attention to the rishi. With much anger, Durvasa cursed the poor lady in way his lover would forget her. At the same time, a fish inside the water took away the wedding ring of Shakuntala. Dushyanta forget everything.
Shakuntala and her friends/Raja Ravi Varma/1898 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakuntala_(Raja_Ravi_Varma)
When Kanva returned to Ashram, he understood Shakuntala was in love and she is carrying a baby. Days, weeks, years passed. Dushyanta did not return. Meanwhile Shakuntala gave birth to a son – Bharata. The boy grew up in the ashram as well. The ashram dwellers forget about Dushyanta’s promise, until Bharata asked about his father.
Raja Ravi Varma/Shakuntala lost in thoughts / 1901 /https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raja_Ravi_Varma,_Shakuntala_lost_in_thoughts_(1901).jpg
Shakuntala, with her simple dress made of the materials of the forest, reached Dushyanta’s court. Dushyanta reject her claims.
O evil ascetic! I remember nothing. Who do you belong to? I do not remember having had any relation with you for dharma, artha or kama. Go or stay, as you wish. Do what you want. தீய துறவியே! எனக்கு எதுவும் நினைவில் இல்லை. நீ யாரைச் சேர்ந்தவர்? தர்மம், அர்த்தம் அல்லது காமத்திற்காக உன்னுடன் எந்த தொடர்பும் இருந்ததாக எனக்கு நினைவில்லை. நீ விரும்பியபடி செல் அல்லது இரு. நீ விரும்பியதைச் செய்.
Shakuntala said that she did not search of her husband Dushyanta, but father for their son Bharata. She left Bharata facing his father and walked away.
Meanwhile, a fisher man caught a fish from a river. He found Dushyanta’s ring – the wedding ring of Shakuntala – inside the fish. He returned it to the king. On getting the ring, Dushyanta realized about Shakuntala. He accepted her as his consort and as queen. Later Bharata took over the reign from Dushyanta and ruled wisely. The land ruled by Bharata was called as Bharata varsha or simply Bharata.
The paintings of Shakuntala by Raja Ravi Varma brings her suffering in these paintings.
Chandravamsha or Lunar dynasty starts from King Pururavas. He is the son of Ila and Budh.
Chandravamsha kings are driven by their love and unstable mind. It starts from him too.
He saw an apsara – the celestial dancer – Urvashi on earth once. Immediately he fell in love with her. No need to explain, because Urvashi is considered to be the most beautiful among all. Even the cattle, flowers, men, women like to see her and touch her if possible. She rarely comes to earth. Mostly she stays with Indra in Amravati. Indra can not live without her.
Pururavas propose to Urvashi and beg her to marry him. Urvashi agreed based on her conditions. She wanted him to take care of her pet goats. She does not want him to expose his nudity to anyone else other than her.
Pururavas agreed immediately. We could see same behavior in rest of the chandravamshi-s too. They were married and lived a loveable life.
There comes the twist. Indra can not live without her. Not sure, if Indrani – Indra’s wife – knows him very well! He wanted to bring Urvashi back to Amravati. He conspires and ordered celestial musicians Gandharvas to steal Urvashi’s pet goats first.
When Urvashi was making love with Pururavas, Gandharva-s stole her goats (or make sounds like goats being as if they were being stolen) . She shouted at Pururavas that her goats are screaming and they are being stolen. Poor Pururavas realized about his promise and ran behind the goats. Alas, he did not realize that he is nude. The spoofy Devendra flashed a lightening using his vajrayutha, so that Pururavas’ nudity is exposed to outer world.
Both promises of Pururavas were broken. The contract is breached. Urvashi flies back to Swarga – the heaven – again. Pururavas tries hard to convince her. He even beg her to be with him. Nothing worked out.
Urvashi and Pururavas, a painting by Raja Ravi Varma – 1896 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pururavas
After she left, Pururavas was into depression. He did not do his responsibilities as a king or father. His thrown is given to his son. He roamed around forest in search of Urvashi. A beautiful love story came to a tragic end.
Pururavas in sadness, a scene from Kalidasa’s Vikramorvashiyam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pururavas
Ho there, my consort! Stay, thou fierce-souled lady, and let us reason for a while together. Such thoughts as these of ours, while yet unspoken in days gone by have never brought us comfort.
What am I now to do with this thy saying? I have gone from thee like the first of Mornings. Pururavas, return thou to thy dwelling: I, like the wind, am difficult to capture.
Tamil Translation: என் துணைவியே! சற்று இரு, கடுமையான ஆன்மா கொண்ட பெண்ணே, சிறிது நேரம் நாம் ஒன்றாகப் பேசுவோம். கடந்த நாட்களில் இன்னும் சொல்லப்படாத நம்முடைய இந்த எண்ணங்கள் நமக்கு ஆறுதலைத் தந்ததில்லையே.
உமது இந்த சொற்களை வைத்து நான் இப்போது என்ன செய்ய முடியும்? நான் உன்னை விட்டு விடியற்காலை போல் சென்றுவிட்டேன். புரூரவஸ், நீ உன் இருப்பிடத்திற்குத் திரும்பு: நான், காற்றைப் போல, பிடிப்பது கடினம்!
The Rig Veda Mandala 10, Hymn 95
The painting by Raja Ravi Varma painfully portrays the break-up. The agony and grief of Pururavas and the painful farewell in Urvashi mesmerize us.
‘தட்சகன் விஷமயமானவன். அவன் பூமி மீது எஞ்சுவது பேரபாயம்’ என்றார் ஸௌனகர்.
‘ஸௌனகரே, விஷம் இல்லையேல் அமுதும் இல்லை. தட்சகன் காமமூர்த்தி. சகலவிதமான செயலூக்கங்களுக்கும் காரணம் அவனே. அதை மறவாதீர்!’ (- ஆஸ்திகன்)
English translation:
‘Takshaka is poisonous. Leaving him alive on earth is a disaster’ said Shounaka.
‘Shounaka, there is no amudham (elixir) without poison. Takshaka is icon of desire. He is the cause of all kinds of karya-karma motivations. Don’t forget that!’ (said by Astika)
Short story – இறுதி விஷம் – Jeyamohan
This is an argument between Astika – the naishtika brahmachari – with minister Saunaka during the Snake sacrifice yagna performed by King Janamejaya. This is from a short story இறுதி விஷம் (‘Final Poison‘) written with a Mahabharata theme by Writer Jeyamohan.
Mahabharata was an interesting epic no one can avoid. During this series I am planning to write about 28 paintings of Mahabharata. Here is the first one – the snake sacrifice.
Illustration of Razmnama, Persian version of Mahabharata – Picture (c) Wikipedia
Parikshit – the last existed descendant after the cruel Mahabharata war – was dreaded by the fear of snake bite. He isolated himself from everyone, every place. We know the bitter meaning of isolation in this covid-19 period, isn’t it? He did not even had mobile phones or internet enabled laptops then 🙂 He was afraid because has was cursed to die of snake bite in 7 days.
Nothing could save him. He bite a fruit on the 7th day. The worm inside the fruit transformed itself in to a scary snake. He is nothing but the super king of Naga – Takshaka. The snake bite Parikshit. Before someone could save him, the poison killed him instantly. Takshaka went away silently without a trace.
Parikshit bitten by Takshak from Birla razmnama. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
Prince Janamejaya enraged by this. He wanted to perform the powerful yagna – the sarpa sattra. This is a sacrificial ritual that would force all the snakes in this world to come and get into fire to perform self-sacrifice (suicide). All snakes died in this yagna. Takshaka was the one left alone. He came for self sacrifice with reluctance. His death would be the death of all snake creatures of this world.
The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
There came Astika to save him. One of his arguments to justify the life of Takshaka were given in the beginning of this blog post. Janamejaya tried to cover up his decision of killing all the snakes as a dharma for his father’s death. Astika questioned him about dharma on behalf of the snakes being killed. To make Janamejaya to know about dharma, Astika suggested him to summon Vaisampayana – Sage Vyasa’s disciple – who knows the story of his forefathers.
The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
This is how Mahabharata narration to Janamejaya starts! We know the rest. Emperor Akbar made the epic to be translated into Persian as the Razmnama or the Book of War, at his court. Some of the paintings of this work are given above.
The snake sacrifice happened in Takshashila, now in Pakistan.
