King · All traditions · Pan-India

Nahusha

A human king of the lunar line, son of Ayu and ancestor of the Pandavas, crowned king of the gods while Indra hid after the killing of Vritra. Made proud by a gaze that drained the strength of whoever he looked at, he demanded Indra's queen and had the sages carry his litter; cursed for touching Agastya with his foot, he fell to earth as a great serpent until Yudhishthira freed him.

Sources: The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer · see Nahusha's web

Relations 4

Nahusha cursed by

Agastya (Sage) · Nahusha on Indra's throne
To fall and be a serpent (Udyoga 17, Vana 181).
Bhrigu (Sage) · Nahusha on Indra's throne
Variant: Bhrigu, hidden in Agastya's hair, speaks the curse (Anushasana 100).

Nahusha blessed by

Yudhishthira (King) · Nahusha on Indra's throne
His answers end the serpent's curse.

Nahusha rival of

Indra (God) · Nahusha on Indra's throne
Nahusha holds Indra's throne while Indra hides.

Stories 1

Nahusha on Indra's throne
From the epics · as the human king of heaven · 4 tellings

Cited

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.11-17 Primary text (translation)
The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § vana.178-181 Primary text (translation)
The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.99-100 Primary text (translation)