ADI PARV MAHABHARAT BOOK 1 CHAPTER 52

Adi Parv, Mahabharat / Mahabharat Book I Chapter 52 : English

SECTION LVII

(Astik Parv continued)

"Saunaka said, 'O son of a Suta, I desire to hear the names of all those Nagas that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice!'

"Sauti replied, 'Many thousands and tens of thousands and billions of snakes fell into the fire. O most excellent Brahmana, so great is the number that I am unable to count them all. So far, however, as I remember, hear the names I mention of the principal snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vasuki's race alone, of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and huge body and deadly poison. Helpless and miserable and afflicted with their mother's curse, they fell into the sacrificial fire like libations of butter.

Nagas born of Vasuki :

"Kotisa, Manasa, Purna, Saha, Pola, Halisaka, Pichchhila, Konapa, Chakra, Kona, Vega, Prakalana, Hiranyavahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, Kaladantaka--

these Nagas born of Vasuki, fell into the fire.

And, O Brahmana, numerous other Nagas well-born, and of terrible form and great strength, were burnt in the blazing fire.

Nagas of the race of Takshak :

I shall now mention those born in the race of Takshaka. Hear thou their names.

Puchchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasekta, Ramenaka; Uchchhika, Surasa, Darangas (Bhanga ?), Balaheda, Virohana; Shili, Shala, Kara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana, Mudgara and Shasharoma, Sumana and Mahahanu, Vegavahan.

These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire.

Nagas of race of Airavat :

And Paravata, Pariyatra, Pandara, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabha, Moda, Pramoda, Sanhatangada.

--these born in the race of Airavata fell into the fire.

Nagas of the race Kauravya :

Now hear, O best of Brahmanas, the names of the snakes I mention born in the race of Kauravya.

Aindila, Kundala, Munda, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Shringavega, Dhurtaka, Pratara and Astaka.

There born in the race of Kauravya fell into the fire.

Nagas of race of Dhritrashtra :

Now hear the names I mention, in order, of those snakes endued with the speed of the wind and with virulent poison, born in the race of Dhritarashtra :

Shankukarna, Pingalaka, Kuthara, Mukhamechaka; Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Shakuni, Dari, Amahatha, Komathaka, Shavasana, Manava, Vata, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pishanga, Udraparaka, Rishabha, Vegavan, Pindaraka; Mahahanu, Raktanga, Sarvasaranga, Samriddha, Pata and Vasaka (?); Varahaka, Varanaka, Sumitra, Chitravegika, Parashara, Tarunaka, Maniskandha and Aruni.

"O Brahman, thus I have recited the names of the principal Nagas known widely for their achievements--

I have not been able to name all, the number being countless. The sons of these Nagas, the sons of those sons, that were burnt having fallen into the fire, I am unable to mention.

They are so many! Some of three heads, some of seven, others of ten, of poison like unto the fire at the end of the yuga and terrible in form,--they were burnt by thousands!

"Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, of the length of a yama, of a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of assuming at will any form and of mastering at will any degree of strength, of poison like unto blazing fire, afflicted by the curse of a mother, were burnt in that great 'sacrifice.'"

Source :

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