01.032
Library: Shesha asks to be stationed in dharma as boon.
शौनक उवाच॥
Śaunaka spoke:
जाता वै भुजगास्तात वीर्यवन्तो दुरासदाः। शापं तं त्वथ विज्ञाय कृतवन्तो नु किं परम् ॥१-३२-१॥
O father, the serpents were indeed born powerful and formidable. After knowing about the curse, what else did they do?
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
तेषां तु भगवाञ्शेषस्त्यक्त्वा कद्रूं महायशाः। तपो विपुलमातस्थे वायुभक्षो यतव्रतः ॥१-३२-२॥
Among them, the divine Śeṣa, greatly renowned, left Kadru and undertook intense penance, living on air and maintaining strict vows.
गन्धमादनमासाद्य बदर्यां च तपोरतः। गोकर्णे पुष्करारण्ये तथा हिमवतस्तटे ॥१-३२-३॥
Having reached Gandhamadana, he engaged in penance in Badari, Gokarna, the forest of Pushkara, and also on the slopes of the Himalayas.
तेषु तेषु च पुण्येषु तीर्थेष्वायतनेषु च। एकान्तशीली नियतः सततं विजितेन्द्रियः ॥१-३२-४॥
In those holy places and temples, he remains solitary, disciplined, and always in control of his senses.
तप्यमानं तपो घोरं तं ददर्श पितामहः। परिशुष्कमांसत्वक्स्नायुं जटाचीरधरं प्रभुम् ॥१-३२-५॥
The grandfather beheld the lord, who was engaged in severe austerities, appearing emaciated with dried-up flesh, skin, and sinews, and adorned with matted hair and bark garments.
तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिं तप्यमानं पितामहः। किमिदं कुरुषे शेष प्रजानां स्वस्ति वै कुरु ॥१-३२-६॥
The grandfather addressed the suffering Satyadhriti, asking him what he was doing and urging him to ensure the welfare of the remaining people.
त्वं हि तीव्रेण तपसा प्रजास्तापयसेऽनघ। ब्रूहि कामं च मे शेष यत्ते हृदि चिरं स्थितम् ॥१-३२-७॥
O sinless one, you indeed torment the creatures with your intense penance. Please tell me the desire that has remained in your heart for a long time.
शेष उवाच॥
Shesha spoke:
सोदर्या मम सर्वे हि भ्रातरो मन्दचेतसः। सह तैर्नोत्सहे वस्तुं तद्भवाननुमन्यताम् ॥१-३२-८॥
All my brothers are indeed dull-minded. I am not capable of living with them, so may you permit me to leave.
अभ्यसूयन्ति सततं परस्परममित्रवत्। ततोऽहं तप आतिष्ठे नैतान्पश्येयमित्युत ॥१-३२-९॥
They constantly envy each other like enemies. Therefore, I undertook penance so that I would not have to see them.
न मर्षयन्ति सततं विनतां ससुतां च ते। अस्माकं चापरो भ्राता वैनतेयः पितामह ॥१-३२-१०॥
They never forgive Vinata and her son. Our other brother is Vainateya, the grandfather.
तं च द्विषन्ति तेऽत्यर्थं स चापि सुमहाबलः। वरप्रदानात्स पितुः कश्यपस्य महात्मनः ॥१-३२-११॥
They hate him exceedingly, but he is also very mighty because of the boon given by his father, the great sage Kaśyapa.
सोऽहं तपः समास्थाय मोक्ष्यामीदं कलेवरम्। कथं मे प्रेत्यभावेऽपि न तैः स्यात्सह सङ्गमः ॥१-३२-१२॥
I, having undertaken penance, will release this body. How can I avoid association with them even after death?
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahma spoke:
जानामि शेष सर्वेषां भ्रातृणां ते विचेष्टितम्। मातुश्चाप्यपराधाद्वै भ्रातृणां ते महद्भयम् ॥१-३२-१३॥
I am aware of all the remaining actions of your brothers. Moreover, due to the offense committed by the mother, your brothers are in great fear.
कृतोऽत्र परिहारश्च पूर्वमेव भुजङ्गम। भ्रातृणां तव सर्वेषां न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१-३२-१४॥
A remedy has already been made here, O serpent. You should not mourn for any of your brothers.
वृणीष्व च वरं मत्तः शेष यत्तेऽभिकाङ्क्षितम्। दित्सामि हि वरं तेऽद्य प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि ॥१-३२-१५॥
Choose any boon from me that you still desire. I will grant you a boon today, as my greatest affection is towards you.
दिष्ट्या च बुद्धिर्धर्मे ते निविष्टा पन्नगोत्तम। अतो भूयश्च ते बुद्धिर्धर्मे भवतु सुस्थिरा ॥१-३२-१६॥
Fortunately, O best of serpents, your intelligence is already established in righteousness. Therefore, may it remain steadfast and even stronger in righteousness.
शेष उवाच॥
Shesha spoke:
एष एव वरो मेऽद्य काङ्क्षितः प्रपितामह। धर्मे मे रमतां बुद्धिः शमे तपसि चेश्वर ॥१-३२-१७॥
This is the boon I seek today, O great-grandfather. May my mind find joy in righteousness, peace, and austerity, O Lord.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahma spoke:
प्रीतोऽस्म्यनेन ते शेष दमेन प्रशमेन च। त्वया त्विदं वचः कार्यं मन्नियोगात्प्रजाहितम् ॥१-३२-१८॥
I am pleased with your remaining restraint and tranquility. Therefore, you must carry out this command of mine for the welfare of the people.
इमां महीं शैलवनोपपन्नां; ससागरां साकरपत्तनां च। त्वं शेष सम्यक्चलितां यथाव; त्सङ्गृह्य तिष्ठस्व यथाचला स्यात् ॥१-३२-१९॥
O Shesha, hold this earth, which is endowed with mountains, forests, oceans, and ports, and stay steady so that it remains immovable.
शेष उवाच॥
Shesha spoke:
यथाह देवो वरदः प्रजापति; र्महीपतिर्भूतपतिर्जगत्पतिः। तथा महीं धारयितास्मि निश्चलां; प्रयच्छ तां मे शिरसि प्रजापते ॥१-३२-२०॥
As the god, the boon-giver, and the lord of all realms declared, I am the steadfast supporter of the earth; therefore, grant me that responsibility upon my head, O lord of creatures.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahma spoke:
अधो महीं गच्छ भुजङ्गमोत्तम; स्वयं तवैषा विवरं प्रदास्यति। इमां धरां धारयता त्वया हि मे; महत्प्रियं शेष कृतं भविष्यति ॥१-३२-२१॥
Descend to the earth, O noble serpent; this hole will naturally accommodate you. By supporting the earth, you will indeed fulfill my great favor, O Śeṣa.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
तथेति कृत्वा विवरं प्रविश्य स; प्रभुर्भुवो भुजगवराग्रजः स्थितः। बिभर्ति देवीं शिरसा महीमिमां; समुद्रनेमिं परिगृह्य सर्वतः ॥१-३२-२२॥
Thus, having created an opening and entered, he, the lord and elder brother of the foremost serpents, stood firm. He supports the goddess on his head, embracing the entire earth with its oceanic boundary from all sides.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahma spoke:
शेषोऽसि नागोत्तम धर्मदेवो; महीमिमां धारयसे यदेकः। अनन्तभोगः परिगृह्य सर्वां; यथाहमेवं बलभिद्यथा वा ॥१-३२-२३॥
You are Shesha, the supreme serpent and god of dharma, who alone supports this earth with your endless coils, encompassing everything, just as I do or as Indra does.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
अधो भूमेर्वसत्येवं नागोऽनन्तः प्रतापवान्। धारयन्वसुधामेकः शासनाद्ब्रह्मणो विभुः ॥१-३२-२४॥
Below the earth, the mighty serpent Ananta dwells, supporting the earth alone by the command of Brahma, the lord.
सुपर्णं च सखायं वै भगवानमरोत्तमः। प्रादादनन्ताय तदा वैनतेयं पितामहः ॥१-३२-२५॥
The divine and best of the immortals, Suparna, as a friend, gave to Ananta and then to Vinata's son, as the grandsire.
