Devalok
From the epics · 4 tellings · Pan-India, The Himalaya

Nahusha on Indra's throne

While Indra hides in a lotus stalk, the human king Nahusha rules heaven, demands Shachi, has sages carry his litter and is cursed to fall as a serpent.

Who is in it

Texts: Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana

The story, beat by beat

  1. With Indra hidden after Vritra's death, gods and sages crown the virtuous king Nahusha.
  2. They give him the power to absorb the strength of anyone in his sight.
  3. Nahusha turns to pleasure and demands that Shachi attend him.
  4. Shachi takes refuge with Brihaspati, who refuses to give her up and advises asking for time.
  5. Vishnu prescribes a horse sacrifice; Indra is cleansed, sees Nahusha's power and hides again.
  6. Shachi worships Night and by her truth summons Divination, who leads her to a lake beyond the Himalaya.
  7. She finds Indra, tiny, in the fibres of a lotus stalk.
  8. Indra tells her to ask Nahusha to come in a litter carried by sages.
  9. Nahusha, delighted, yokes the sages.
  10. Brihaspati sends Agni, who overcomes his fear of water and finds Indra; the gods' praise restores Indra's size.
  11. Agastya reports: Nahusha denied the Vedic hymns and touched his head with his foot.
  12. Agastya cursed him to fall and be a serpent for ten thousand years; Indra returns.

pride kingship curse faithfulness hiding

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva 11-17

Pan-India All traditions

Shalya tells Yudhishthira. Nahusha, crowned for his virtue and given a strength-draining gaze, grows proud and summons Shachi. Brihaspati shelters her; she gains time, calls up Divination and finds Indra in a lotus stalk on an island lake north of the Himalaya. Indra's plan is that Nahusha should come to her in a litter borne by sages. Agni, sent by Brihaspati, finds Indra in the waters; the gods' praise makes him grow again; he promises shares to Kubera, Yama, Varuna and Agni. Agastya arrives to say Nahusha called the hymns false, set a foot on his head and was cursed to be a serpent for ten thousand years.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.11; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.12; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.13; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.14; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.15; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.16; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § udyoga.17

Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Vana Parva 178-181 (the serpent and Yudhishthira)

The Himalaya All traditions

A huge serpent in a Himalayan cave seizes Bhima. Yudhishthira finds them; the serpent says he is Nahusha, son of Ayu and their ancestor, and will free Bhima if his questions are answered. Yudhishthira says a Brahmin is known by truth, charity, forgiveness and conduct, not birth. Nahusha then tells his own fall: prosperity intoxicated him, a thousand sages drew his chariot, his foot touched Agastya, who cursed him; as he fell he begged pardon and was told Yudhishthira would release him. He lets Bhima go, sheds the serpent body and returns to heaven.

What is different here:

Told by Nahusha himself; no Shachi, no lotus stalk, no stratagem; the curse ends on meeting Yudhishthira, not after ten thousand years; the lesson is that conduct, not birth, makes a Brahmin.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § vana.178; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § vana.179; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § vana.180; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § vana.181

Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 99-100 (Bhrigu in Agastya's hair)

Pan-India All traditions

Bhishma tells it to explain offerings of lamps and incense. Nahusha at first keeps every rite in heaven, then stops out of pride and loses energy. Brahma's boon makes anyone he sees powerless, so no sage can curse him. Bhrigu hides in Agastya's matted locks, unseen. Nahusha yokes Agastya on the bank of the Sarasvati, goads him and kicks his head with the left foot; Bhrigu, whom Nahusha never saw, curses him to fall as a snake.

What is different here:

Bhrigu, not Agastya, speaks the curse, and a reason is given why Agastya could not; no Shachi; the frame is ritual duty.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.99; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.100

Primary text (translation)

Bhagavata Purana 6.13.14-18

Pan-India All traditions

After Vritra's death Indra flees the personified sin to Lake Manasa and lives a thousand years in the fibres of a lotus stem; Agni cannot bring his share through the water. Nahusha, ruling meanwhile, is blinded by power, makes advances to Indra's wife, is cursed by a Brahmin and becomes a snake. The Brahmins call Indra back and purify him with a horse sacrifice.

What is different here:

Three verses only; the lake is named Manasa and the hiding lasts a thousand years; the curser is unnamed.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhaktivedanta Vedabase) § 6.13.12-18

Sources: The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer; Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhaktivedanta Vedabase)

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