01.032
Library: Shesha asks to be stationed in dharma as boon.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke:
jātā vai bhujagāstāta vīryavanto durāsadāḥ। śāpaṃ taṃ tvatha vijñāya kṛtavanto nu kiṃ param ॥1-32-1॥
O father, the serpents were indeed born powerful and formidable. After knowing about the curse, what else did they do?
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
teṣāṃ tu bhagavāñśeṣastyaktvā kadrūṃ mahāyaśāḥ। tapo vipulamātasathe vāyubhakṣo yatavrataḥ ॥1-32-2॥
Among them, the divine Śeṣa, greatly renowned, left Kadru and undertook intense penance, living on air and maintaining strict vows.
gandhamādanam āsādya badaryāṃ ca taporataḥ। gokarṇe puṣkarāraṇye tathā himavatastaṭe ॥1-32-3॥
Having reached Gandhamadana, he engaged in penance in Badari, Gokarna, the forest of Pushkara, and also on the slopes of the Himalayas.
teṣu teṣu ca puṇyeṣu tīrtheṣvāyataneṣu ca। ekāntaśīlī niyataḥ satataṃ vijitendriyaḥ ॥1-32-4॥
In those holy places and temples, he remains solitary, disciplined, and always in control of his senses.
tapyamānaṃ tapo ghoraṃ taṃ dadarśa pitāmahaḥ। pariśuṣkamāṃsatvaksnāyuṃ jaṭācīradharaṃ prabhum ॥1-32-5॥
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.
tamabravītsatyadhṛtiṃ tapyamānaṃ pitāmahaḥ। kimidaṃ kuruṣe śeṣa prajānāṃ svasti vai kuru ॥1-32-6॥
The grandfather addressed the suffering Satyadhriti, asking him what he was doing and urging him to ensure the welfare of the remaining people.
tvaṁ hi tīvreṇa tapasā prajās tāpayase'nagha। brūhi kāmaṁ ca me śeṣa yat te hṛdi ciraṁ sthitam ॥1-32-7॥
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.
śeṣa uvāca॥
Shesha spoke:
sodaryā mama sarve hi bhrātaro mandacētasaḥ। saha tairnōtsahē vastuṁ tadbhavānnumanyatām ॥1-32-8॥
All my brothers are indeed dull-minded. I am not capable of living with them, so may you permit me to leave.
abhyasūyanti satataṃ parasparam amitravat। tato'haṃ tapa ātiṣṭhe naitān paśyeyam ityuta ॥1-32-9॥
They constantly envy each other like enemies. Therefore, I undertook penance so that I would not have to see them.
na marṣayanti satataṃ vinatāṃ sasutāṃ ca te। asmākaṃ cāparo bhrātā vainateyaḥ pitāmaha ॥1-32-10॥
They never forgive Vinata and her son. Our other brother is Vainateya, the grandfather.
taṁ ca dviṣanti te'tyarthaṁ sa cāpi sumahābalaḥ। varapradānāt sa pituḥ kaśyapasya mahātmanaḥ ॥1-32-11॥
They hate him exceedingly, but he is also very mighty because of the boon given by his father, the great sage Kaśyapa.
so'haṃ tapaḥ samāsthāya mokṣyāmīdaṃ kalevaram| kathaṃ me pretyabhāve'pi na taiḥ syātsaha saṅgamaḥ ॥1-32-12॥
I, having undertaken penance, will release this body. How can I avoid association with them even after death?
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
jānāmi śeṣa sarveṣāṃ bhrātṛṇāṃ te viceṣṭitam। mātuścāpyaparādhādvai bhrātṛṇāṃ te mahadbhayam ॥1-32-13॥
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.
kṛto'tra parihāraśca pūrvameva bhujaṅgama। bhrātṛṇāṃ tava sarveṣāṃ na śokaṃ kartumarhasi ॥1-32-14॥
A remedy has already been made here, O serpent. You should not mourn for any of your brothers.
vṛṇīṣva ca varaṃ mattaḥ śeṣa yatte'bhikāṅkṣitam। ditsāmi hi varaṃ te'dya prītirme paramā tvayi ॥1-32-15॥
Choose any boon from me that you still desire. I will grant you a boon today, as my greatest affection is towards you.
diṣṭyā ca buddhirdharme te niviṣṭā pannagottama। ato bhūyaśca te buddhirdharme bhavatu susthirā ॥1-32-16॥
Fortunately, O best of serpents, your intelligence is already established in righteousness. Therefore, may it remain steadfast and even stronger in righteousness.
śeṣa uvāca॥
Shesha spoke:
eṣa eva varo me'dya kāṅkṣitaḥ prapitāmaha। dharme me ramatāṃ buddhiḥ śame tapasi ceśvara ॥1-32-17॥
This is the boon I seek today, O great-grandfather. May my mind find joy in righteousness, peace, and austerity, O Lord.
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
prīto'smyanena te śeṣa damena praśamena ca। tvayā tvidaṃ vacaḥ kāryaṃ manniyogātprajāhitam ॥1-32-18॥
I am pleased with your remaining restraint and tranquility. Therefore, you must carry out this command of mine for the welfare of the people.
imāṃ mahīṃ śailavanopapannāṃ; sasāgarāṃ sākarapattanāṃ ca। tvaṃ śeṣa samyakcalitāṃ yathāva; tsaṅgṛhya tiṣṭhasva yathācalā syāt ॥1-32-19॥
O Shesha, hold this earth, which is endowed with mountains, forests, oceans, and ports, and stay steady so that it remains immovable.
śeṣa uvāca॥
Shesha spoke:
yathāha devo varadaḥ prajāpati; rmīpatirbhūtapatirjagatpatiḥ| tathā mahīṃ dhārayitāsmi niścalāṃ; prayaccha tāṃ me śirasi prajāpate ॥1-32-20॥
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.
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
adho mahīṁ gaccha bhujaṅgamottama; svayaṁ tavaiṣā vivaraṁ pradāsyati. imāṁ dharāṁ dhārayatā tvayā hi me; mahatpriyaṁ śeṣa kṛtaṁ bhaviṣyati ॥1-32-21॥
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.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tatheti kṛtvā vivaraṃ praviśya sa; prabhurbhuvo bhujagavarāgrajaḥ sthitaḥ। bibharti devīṃ śirasā mahīmimāṃ; samudranemiṃ parigṛhya sarvataḥ ॥1-32-22॥
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.
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
śeṣo'si nāgottama dharmadevo; mahīmimāṃ dhārayase yadekaḥ| anantabhogaḥ parigṛhya sarvāṃ; yathāhamevaṃ balabhidyathā vā ॥1-32-23॥
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.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
adho bhūmervasatyevaṃ nāgo'nantaḥ pratāpavān। dhārayanvasudhāmekaḥ śāsanādbrahmaṇo vibhuḥ ॥1-32-24॥
Below the earth, the mighty serpent Ananta dwells, supporting the earth alone by the command of Brahma, the lord.
suparṇaṃ ca sakhāyaṃ vai bhagavānamarottamaḥ। prādādanantāya tadā vainateyaṃ pitāmahaḥ ॥1-32-25॥
The divine and best of the immortals, Suparna, as a friend, gave to Ananta and then to Vinata's son, as the grandsire.
