Nahusha Reveals His Identity and Curse to Bhima

The serpent had Bhima in his coils. But instead of devouring him immediately, he freed his thick arms and spoke. "O mighty-armed one! I have been hungry for an extremely long time, and it is fortunate that the gods and destiny have sent me my food. Life is dear to all beings that have bodies. But I must certainly tell you the account now — how it was that I became a serpent. I attained this state because of the anger of the learned ones." He told Bhima who he was. "You must have heard of the rajarshi (royal sage) named Nahusha. He was your ancestor and that of your forefathers. He was Ayu's son and the extender of that lineage. I am he." Nahusha had once been king of the gods themselves. When Indra had fled after killing the brahmana Vritra, the gods had chosen Nahusha to rule in his place. But power corrupted him. He grew arrogant, and when the great sage Agastya approached him, Nahusha showed disrespect to the brahmanas — the priestly class. Agastya cursed him, and Nahusha fell from the vimana (celestial chariot) on which Shakra — Indra himself — was seated. As he fell, he begged the sage for mercy. Flooded with compassion, Agastya replied: "O king! You will be freed after some time has passed." Nahusha fell to the ground but did not lose his memory. The rishi (sage) gave him a boon: "He who replies accurately to your questions will free you from your curse. O king! Once grasped by you, even if it is a being that is stronger and superior to you, it will immediately lose its mettle." Then the brahmanas disappeared. "O immensely radiant one! I thus assumed the form of a serpent. I live in this unholy hell, performing evil deeds, waiting for the appointed time." He looked at Bhima — his own descendant, trapped in his coils. "Look at what fate has wrought on me. You are my descendant and you are extremely handsome. Therefore, you should not be killed by me. But look at destiny. I will devour you today."