Descending in order from Visnu
• Brahma
• Marici
• Kasyapa
• Taksaka.
Kasyapa got of his wife Kadru serpents and Taksaka was one of the serpent chiefs.
(Sloka 5, Chapter 35, Adi Parva ).
(See also under Kadru) .
2) Taksaka and Pariksit.
In his boyhood #Taksaka went out from the family. The reason was a curse by his mother. Once Kadru and Vinata, another wife of Kasyapa, entered into a controversy regarding the colour of the hair of the tail of the horse Ucchaisravas. Kadru said, it was black and Vinata said it was white. It was decided that she who lost the wager should become the servant of the other. That night Kadra called her children and asked them to go and hang on the tail of the horse so that it should appear black. Some of the righteous children opposed this deceitful attempt of their mother and refused to go. Kadru cursed them saying that they would be burnt to death at the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya. Kadru sent those children out from home and Taksaka became their leader.
At that time Pariksit (King of Bharata) became the victim of a curse that he would die by the bite of Taksaka within seven days. (To know more details regarding this curse of the sage see under Astika). The worried King in consultation with his ministers decided to take protective measures. At first he moved to a seven-storeyed palace and stayed on the seventh storey. Physicians of fame and those well-versed in mantras were posted at the palace. Brahmins were put on duty for prayers. The entire palace and precincts were guarded by huge elephants. Security arrangements were such that even wind found it .im.possible to enter the palace without permission. The King did all his daily routine activities in the palace itself.
At that time Kasyapa [There is a version that it was Dhanvantari who was thus sent back by Taksaka. 9th Skandha, Devi Bhagavata] was the greatest of all physicians and mantrikas and, greedy that he was, he started to the palace of Pariksit thinking that it would be the best opportunity to obtain some money from the King. Taksaka also was going to the palace in the guise of a brahmin. On the way Taksaka met Kasyapa and knowing well that the presence of the celebrated Kasyapa at the palace would be an obstacle to the achievement of his mission, he approached Kagyapa. They talked on the way and Ka’syapa said he was going to the palace to save the King from the bite of Taksaka. Then Taksaka, revealing his identity, said that i t was impossible to save anybody from the result of his bite. Both then decided to test their skill then and there. A huge banyan tree with many branches spreading wide was standing nearby and Taksaka gave it a bite. Within seconas the huge tree was charred to destruction; Kagyapa then took some water and reciting a mantra poured the water over the ashes of the tree and then to the surprise of Taksaka, the tree rose up and stood in its original form. On seeing that Taksaka confessed that Kasyapa was superior to him. Taksaka then coaxed him to his side and giving him a huge amount as bribe bade him return home.
Six days went by and on the seventh day Taksaka reached the palace of Pariksit. He found the palace well-guarded and watched. There was no way to go in. Taksaka then called all his relatives and had them disguised as brahmins. He sent them in with fruits and roots, like people who had come to pay homage to the King. Taksaka crept into one of the most attractive of the fruits as a tiny worm. The guards at the gate stopped them. The fake brahmins then said that they had come a long way from a far off Tapovana and should be allowed to see the King. The information was carried to the King. The King said he would see the brahmins the next day but ordered their gifts to be brought to him. When the fruits and roots were brought to him, he gave a fruit each to the ministers, himselftaking the most beautiful fruit of the lot. When he cut the fruit open he saw a worm with two black eyes and a red body sitting inside it and was a bit surprised. Then he addressed his ministers thus : “Oh, best of ministers, by your earnest and sincere endeavour nothing has happened to me till now. The Sun is going to set and the term of the curse is going to end. There is no need to be afraid of any poison now. But let not a curse of a sage go futile. Let this worm bite me and fulfill the curse.” So saying the King took the worm and placed it on his neck. The worm changed itself into the fierce Taksaka and bit the King and the King fell down dead.
(12th Skandha, Devil Bhagavata) .
3) How Taksaka became India’s friend.
Once the son of a sage of great divine splendour named Uttanka was studying under a Guru named Veda. When his education was complete, the Guru asked him to bring as daksina (fees) the ear-rings worn by the Ksatriya wife king Pausya. Indra made Taksaka steal the ornament and created many obstacles on the way. (For details see under Uttanka). That incident made them mutual friends and gradually Taksaka became an intimate friend of Indra.
From that clay onwards Utanka waited for an opportunity to take vengeance on Taksaka. It was at that time that Janamejaya, son of Pariksit, became the king. Janamejaya was only eleven years old when he became king and he was not then aware of the details of the death of his father. Uttafika went to him and told him how Taksaka killed his father. Janamejaya became furious and asked him how to wreak vengeance on him. Uttanka suggested the performance of a Sarpasatra to which all the serpents should be attracted by mantras and burnt to death there. The young king agreed and Uttanka with other rsis commenced the Sarpasatra.
One by one all the serpents came and fell into the sacrificial fire but Taksaka was not to be found. Where is Taksaka? This question was heard from many lips. Taksaka was specially invoked by Uttanka. Taksaka could not bear the power of Uttanka and he ran and prostrated before Indra. Indra not only did give refuge but gave him half of his seat in the throne and Taksaka sat on it fully confident of security. Uttanka was enraged, when after repeated calls by mantra, Taksaka did not appear and so he sat in meditation for some time to know the cause. He then saw Taksaka sitting on the throne of Indra and the sight threw him into fury and he invoked Taksaka, Indra and the throne and all. Lo ! in an instant Indra, Taksaka, the throne arid all started moving towards the sacrificial fire ! Within seconds all would have been burnt to death but for the timely intervention of a brahmin boy named Astika, son of the sage jaratkaru. (See under Astika, Taksaka escaped death that time).
Taksaka by instructions from Indra was living in the forest of Khandava, and when that was burnt by A’ni, it was Indra who saved Taksaka from the fire. (See under Khandavadaha).
4) Other details.
(i) A king called Candrangada lived in the house of Taksaka for some time. (See under Candr5ngada).
(ii) Taksaka in the guise of a brahmin named Ksapanaka went to the sage Uttanka and stole the ornaments from him. (See under Uttarika).
(iii) Once the Earth was made into a cow and everybody milked from her what each wanted. The serpents milked poison from her and they then used Taksaka as the calf. (See under Prthu).
(iv) During the burning of the forest of Khandava, Arjuna slew the wife of Taksaka. (See under Khandavadaha) .
(v) When the soul of Balabhadrarama, after his death, reached Patala, Taksaka received it with respect. (Sloka 15, Chapter 4, Mausala Parva).
(vi) Taksaka lives in the court of Varuna worshipping him. (Sloka 8, Chapter 9, Sabha Parva).
#Taksaka. #Takshaka
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