Chapter 20
“Sauti said, ‘Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amritawas churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horseUchchaihsravas of great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained.
Itwas this horse about which Kadru asked Vinata, saying, ‘Tell me, amiablesister, without taking much time, of what colour Uchchaishravas is.’ AndVinata answered, ‘That prince of steeds is certainly white. What dostthou think, sister? Say thou what is its colour. Let us lay a wager uponit.’ Kadru replied, then, ‘O thou of sweet smiles. I think that horse isblack in its tail. Beauteous one, bet with me that she who loseth willbecome the other’s slave.’
‘Sauti continued, ‘Thus wagering with each other about menial service asa slave, the sisters went home, and resolved to satisfy themselves byexamining the horse next day. And Kadru, bent upon practising adeception, ordered her thousand sons to transform themselves into blackhair and speedily cover the horse’s tail in order that she might notbecome a slave. But her sons, the snakes, refusing to do her bidding, shecursed them, saying, ‘During the snake-sacrifice of the wise kingJanamejaya of the Pandava race, Agni shall consume you all.’ And theGrandsire (Brahman) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse pronouncedby Kadru, impelled by the fates. And seeing that the snakes hadmultiplied exceedingly, the Grandsire, moved by kind consideration forhis creatures, sanctioned with all the gods this curse of Kadru. Indeed,as the snakes were of virulent poison, great prowess and excess ofstrength, and ever bent on biting other creatures, their mother’s conducttowards them–those persecutors of all creatures,–was very proper forthe good of all creatures. Fate always inflicts punishment of death onthose who seek the death of other creatures. The gods, having exchangedsuch sentiments with one another, supported Kadru’s action (and wentaway). And Brahman, calling Kasyapa to him, spake unto him these words,’O thou pure one who overcomest all enemies, these snakes begotten byyou, who are of virulent poison and huge bodies, and ever intent onbiting other creatures, have been cursed by their mother. O son, do notgrieve for it in the least. The destruction of the snakes in thesacrifice hath, indeed, been ordained long ago’ Saying this, the divineCreator of the Universe comforted Kasyapa and imparted to thatillustrious one the knowledge of neutralising poison.”
And so ends the twentieth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
