Nahusha Reveals His Identity and Condition

Yudhishthira found Bhima in the serpent's coils. He had been searching the forest for his brother, who had gone hunting and not returned. Now he stood before a massive serpent — hooded, immovable — with Bhima wrapped in its folds, helpless. The serpent spoke first. It addressed Yudhishthira by name, called him unblemished, and told him who it was. "I was earlier a king named Nahusha, your ancestor. I am Ayu's famous son, fifth in the line from Soma." Yudhishthira knew the name. Nahusha was the great king of the lunar dynasty, the one who had once ruled the three worlds — heaven, earth, and the underworld — through the power of his austerities and sacrifices. He was the grandfather of Puru, the ancestor from whom the Pandavas themselves were descended. But that was not the whole story. Nahusha told Yudhishthira how he had obtained that unrivalled lordship — through sacrifices, austerities, study, self-restraint, and valour. And then he told him how he had lost it. "Having attained that prosperity, insolence overcame me. Thousands of brahmanas carried my palanquin. Intoxicated with my fortune, I insulted those brahmanas." The insult had been specific and devastating. Nahusha, riding in a palanquin borne by brahmanas, had kicked the sage Agastya on the head — or so the story went. Agastya had cursed him on the spot: fall to the earth, become a serpent, crawl for ages. "I have been reduced to this state because of Agastya," the serpent said. "But because of the favours of the great-souled Agastya, I have not lost my wisdom even now." Then he told Yudhishthira what he intended to do with Bhima. "I have obtained your younger brother as my food at the sixth point in time. I will not free him. Nor do I desire any other food." Yudhishthira stood before the serpent — his own ancestor, cursed and hungry, holding his brother captive. "But if you answer the questions I ask you," the serpent said, "I will later free your brother Vrikodara."