Nahusha's Arrogance punished

Pandavas  were in forest after getting lost in the game of dice. Roaming around the Gandhamadana mountain, Yudhistira found that Bhima, his younger brother missing. After a frantic search he was unable to locate him, till he saw him encircled by a huge python. The ferocious reptile spoke to him in a human voice: ‘ Oh King, know me as king Nahusha, reduced to this form, cursed by sage Agastya, because of my arrogance and disrespect shown to the great Rishi and other wise men.

Yudhistira, eldest among Pandavas replied: ‘ Oh respected king, I feel sad to know this, how can I help you?” The Python replied: ‘ my dear Yudhistira, I have some questions to ask you, of course I do not know righteous answer to them, will you answer and help me to get relieved out of this form of a creature?” Yudhistira agreed.

The Python ( Ajagara) asked him: ‘ Who is a real Brahmana?”

Yudhistira said, ‘ One who by nature Truthful, generous, patient, good charactered, peace-loving, corteous and kind to all is a genuine Brahmana’.

Ajagara: Yes Sir, I know, but even a lowly born might have this.

Yudhistira: If a low born has them, certainly he deserves to be called a Brahmana, but a Brahmana, without such qualities is not’.

Ajagara: How can such a person be recognized? By virtute of birth or behaviour?”

Yudhistira:  As we all know, it is very difficult to decide this on the basis of one’s birth alone, since all Varnas are mixed now in one way or another’. A Brahmana cannot be decided only on the basis of birth or caste’. Unless  a brahmana does not get initiated into Gayatri, the most sacred Mantra to meditate on, he cannot be regarded so. Gayatri is like his second mother. Till then he is as good as a Shudra.

Python:  I feel and believe that gifting away to a deserved one, kind and sweet talk, truthfulness, non-violence lead one to great spiritual heights of Sadgati and Moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death’.

Yudhistira: Respected Sir, which among these is greatest according you?

Python: Dana, giving away to the deserving is greater than being truthful, sometimes Truthfulness excels Dana, uttering sweet words is greater than that, Ahimsa, non-violence excels this at times. Therefore, to sum up, Satya, truthfulness, Dama, self control, Tapas- meditation and spiritually oriented focus, Yoga-excellence in whatever we perform, Ahimsa, not causing pain to others, Daana, giving away happily to those who deserve it, are basic qualities and eligbility towards Moksha or eternal bliss, and not  Caste of birth and Kula, family of birth’.

So saying, the Python got back his previous form of King Nahusha, and journeyed towards his ultimate destination of Moksha, blessing Yudhistira.

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