Takshaka – The King of Serpents

Entities

According to the Mahabharata, Takshaka is known as the king of serpents, particularly of the Naga lineage, a role often shared with Vasuki in mythological texts, though both are believed to be distinct entities. Takshaka’s venom was regarded as unmatched, so deadly that he boasted no spell or antidote could counteract its fatal effects. This confidence came to the forefront in the tale of King Parikshit’s cursed death, in which Takshaka himself took on the responsibility of fulfilling the curse.

Parikshit, a descendant of the Pandavas, had been cursed to die by a snakebite after an offense against a sage. Takshaka, in his serpent form, set out to deliver the fated bite. As he journeyed toward Parikshit’s kingdom, he encountered a Brahmana named Kashyapa (whose identity as “the” Kashyapa or another Brahmana with the same name remains debated). Kashyapa, skilled in mystical healing, was also on his way to Parikshit’s palace, believing he could save the king and earn a reward for his services. Upon learning of Kashyapa’s mission, Takshaka doubted the Brahmana’s capabilities and challenged him to prove his powers by saving a tree from his venomous bite.

Takshaka struck a nearby banyan tree with his fangs, reducing it to ashes in an instant. Kashyapa, undeterred, began chanting sacred Mantras over the tree. Miraculously, under his chants, the tree was restored to life, with branches, leaves, and flowers sprouting anew. Awed by Kashyapa’s power, Takshaka, however, was resolute in his mission. He persuaded Kashyapa to accept an abundant gift of wealth and return to his village, leaving Parikshit’s fate in Takshaka’s hands.

To escape the curse, Parikshit had constructed a formidable fortress. Elevated high above the ground, supported by a single pillar surrounded by an enchanted moat, the structure was fortified with anti-serpent charms. However, Takshaka, ever cunning, took on the form of a tiny worm and hid himself within a piece of fruit. The fruit, carried into the fortress by a group of sages, eventually reached the king. As Parikshit lifted the fruit to eat, Takshaka emerged in his true form, inflicting the deadly bite that fulfilled the curse and led to the king’s death.

This tragic loss spurred Parikshit’s son, Janamejaya, to seek revenge. He initiated the infamous Sarpa Satra, a powerful sacrificial ritual designed to destroy the entire serpent race. Chanting potent incantations, the Brahmanas began to call forth every serpent, compelling them to fling themselves into the sacrificial fire. Thousands of serpents met their end, drawn by the magnetic pull of the sacrificial mantras. However, Takshaka, shielded by his friendship with Indra, the king of the Devas, managed to avoid the fatal pull as Indra sheltered him in his abode.

Observing that Takshaka had not been drawn to the fire, Janamejaya demanded an explanation from his priests. They informed him, “O King, Takshaka is protected by the mighty Indra himself, who is bound to him by friendship and loyalty. Thus, our Mantras have failed to bring him down.” Unrelenting, Janamejaya instructed his chief priest to employ a powerful mantra to ensure Takshaka’s downfall. The priest complied, invoking a mantra that declared, “May Indra fall into this sacrificial fire along with Takshaka.”

The force of this invocation pulled both Takshaka and Indra from their heavenly realm towards the blazing fire. Seeing his impending doom, Indra released his hold on Takshaka, abandoning him to his fate. As Takshaka spiraled closer to the fire, the revered sage Vyasa appeared, urging Janamejaya to cease the sacrifice. Vyasa advised, “O King, allow Takshaka to live. Let the line of the Nagas endure, for the balance of nature depends on their presence.”

Moved by Vyasa’s wisdom, Janamejaya halted the sacrificial rites and spared Takshaka. In gratitude and as a gesture of reconciliation, Takshaka offered the king a substantial portion of the Naga wealth, marking an end to the enmity and sealing peace between the two lines.

Takshaka’s tale weaves through the Mahabharata, symbolizing both the fearsome power of the Nagas and the necessity of harmony between humans and celestial beings.

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