Chapter 38 - The Glory of Kṣīrakuṇḍa: Kadrū’s Expiation for her Deceitful Action

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The story how Kadrū deceitfully enslaved her co-wife Vinatā is found in Mbh, Ādi 20.2-23 and other Purāṇas (PI, I, 304). But the expiation of that deceitfulness by a bath in the Kṣīrakuṇḍa is a contribution of this Purāṇa to enhance the glory of this Tīrtha.

The sages said:

1-2. O Sūta, how was Kadrū liberated by taking her holy bath in Kṣīrakuṇḍa? How did she act fraudulently towards her cowife? Whose daughter was that Kadrū of sinful resolve? Whose co-wife was she? Why did Kadrū defeat her co-wife with deceitful means? Describe this to us who are listening faithfully, O Sūta, O storehouse of mercy.

Śrī Sūta said:

3-8a. Listen, all (ye) sages to this traditional story yielding great merit.

Formerly, in Kṛta Yuga, there were two sisters Kadrū and Vinatā. They were daughters of Prajāpati. Kadrū and Vinatā became wives of Kaśyapa. Vinatā gave birth to the sons Aruṇa and Garuḍa. Kadrū bore to her husband many serpents as his sons, the chiefs among them being Ananta and Vāsuki. They were endowed with poison and haughtiness. Once, the sisters Kadrū and Vinatā saw Uccaiḥśravas coming towards them. On looking at the horse, Kadrū said to Vinatā:

“O Vinatā, say whether the tail of the horse is black or white.”

8b-10. On being asked thus, O Brāhmaṇas, Vinatā said to Kadrū: “O lady of excellent waistline, the horse, it appears to me, has a white tail. What do you think, O Kadrū?”

Asked by Vinatā thus, Kadrū spoke out what she thought: “O lady of uncensured (features), I think that this horse has a black tail.”

11-13. Thereafter they mutually agreed that on being defeated the defeated one will become a maid-servant to the other. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, those two blessed co-wives stood by their respective opinion.

Then, in order to fulfil her own desire, the excessively excited and worried Kadrū spoke thus to her sons, the chief of whom was Vāsuki:

“O sons, act in that manner whereby I can avoid being her slave. Let the tail of Uccaiḥśravas be covered by you.”

14. The serpents did not agree to her proposal. Then the infuriated Kadrū blazing with anger cursed her sons:

15-21. “All of you will certainly perish in the Sattra of the son of Parīkṣita.” When his mother cursed thus, Karkoṭaka became frightened. He bowed down to her feet and piteously spoke these words: “I shall make the tail of Uccaiḥśravas resemble collyrium in its lustre. O mother, you need not be afraid.” Karkoṭaka said this as he was afraid of and worried about the curse. Then the serpent Karkoṭaka covered the tail of Uccaiḥśravas by means of his own body and gave it the lustre of collyrium.

Then Vinatā and Kadrū who had both stipulated the condition of slavery, eagerly hurried to see the horse of the king of Devas. They crossed the ocean. From it the moon, conchshells, rubies, pearls and Airāvata were produced. It was the place where Hari who had the Yogic slumber lay at the end of the sets of four Yugas, and it is the lord of rivers. They went (to heaven) and saw the horse, the vehicle of the king of Devas. On seeing the horse with a black tail, Vinatā became very sad.

22-23. Kadrū engaged the unhappy Vinatā in the duties of a maid-servant. In the meantime, O eminent Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa broke open his eggshell and came out of it blazing like fire. His body was as huge as a mountain. On seeing the enormousness of his body, all the three worlds became frightened.

24-25. The Devas eulogized Garuḍa, the most excellent one among birds. Thinking that, at the very sight of the enormousness of his body the three worlds would be frightened, he reduced the size of his extremely terrifying body. He placed Aruṇa on his back and came near his mother.

26-32. Then Kadrū said to Vinatā who was extremely distressed and agitated and who bowed down to her: “O slave, I am preparing to go to the abode of serpents. Hence let your son Garuḍa bear me and my sons.” Thereupon Vinatā spoke to her son Garuḍa: “I shall bear Kadrū. You bear the serpents, her sons.”

Saying “It shall be so”, O Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa accepted her proposal. Vinatā bore Kadrū and Garuḍa bore all (the others). When the serpents went (i.e. were taken) very near the Sun, they were oppressed by his rays. For the purpose of alleviating the distresś of her sons due to heat, Kadrū eulogized Indra. The king of Devas suppressed all the scorching heat with showers of water.

On being carried by the powerful Garuḍa, those serpents reached that place and spoke to the son of Vinatā: “All of us are eager to see another island. We are in a hurry. Bear us instantly, O Garuḍa, the son of slave.”

33-37. Then, O Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa asked Vinatā: “Why should I bear these (serpents)? Why do you bear her always? Why do these reptiles call me son of a slave? Say all this to me truthfully as I ask it.” On being asked by him thus, the mother said to the son: “Dear son, I have been fraudulently defeated by this, my cruel sister. I am her slave today. You are the son of a slave. So I bear her always and you (shall) bear the serpents.”

Thus she disclosed to him all the details from the beginning. Thereupon Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā, spoke to his mother:

38. “What should be done by me now to release you from slavery?” On being asked thus by her son, Vinatā spoke to him:

39-40. “O Garuḍa, ask the serpents, ‘What should be done by me now to your mother for releasing my mother (from slavery)? Tell Me.’” On being told thus by his mother, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa approached the serpents and asked them. They said to him:

41. “When (i.e. if) you bring the nectar from heaven without delay, O Vainateya, your mother shall be released from slavery even today.”^[1]

42. Then Garuḍa approached his mother. After bowing down to her he spoke thus: “I am proceeding on to bring nectar, O my mother. Give me something to eat.”

43-45. On being told thus, the mother told her son Garuḍa: “Dear son, there are some Śabaras (savage men) in the sea. After eating them bring nectar here. There is a lustful Brāhmaṇa among them who is eager to have sex with a Śabara woman. Avoid that Brāhmaṇa who will scorch your throat by means of his Brāhmaṇical splendour.^[2] May Devas, the chief among whom are Maruts, protect your wings and other limbs.”

46-50. Thus increased (in power) by the blessings of his mother, Garuḍa went on. After reaching the abode of the Śabaras, he opened his mouth for devouring them. The savage hunters entered his wide open mouth like birds that enter the cavern of a mountain.

(Entering his mouth) That Brāhmaṇa also reached his throat, O eminent sages. The son of Vinatā spoke to that Brāhmaṇa who burned his throat: “Though you are a sinner, O Brāhmaṇa, you are not to be killed by me. Hence you come out.”

On being told thus, the Brāhmaṇa replied to Garuḍa, “The Kirāta woman, my wife, should be allowed to come out along with me.”

“Let it be so”, said the lord of the birds to the Brāhmaṇa. Then Garuḍa vomitted out the Brāhmaṇa along with his wife.

51-52. The Brāhmaṇa went to places he liked along with that Niṣāda woman. After devouring the Śabaras, Garuḍa, the most excellent one among birds, hastily approached his father Kaśyapa. On being asked by him, “Where are you going?”, Garuḍa spoke to him:

53-55. “I have come here in order to take away nectar for the sake of liberating my mother from her slavery. I am not fully satisfied even after eating many Kirātas. An unlimited (unsatiable) hunger oppresses me, O holy Sir, day and night. O ascetic, give me foodstuff that will make it satiated. Thereby, O father, I will be able to bring nectar with my own strength.”

On being told thus, Kaśyapa told his son born of Vinatā:

Kaśyapa said:

56-60. Formerly there was a sage named Vibhāvasu.^[3] His younger brother was Supratīka. Both of them were inimical to each other ever since their birth. O Brāhmaṇas(?) they got extremely furious and they cursed each other. Supratīka became an elephant and Vibhāvasu, a tortoise. Thus on account of monetary dispute, those two brothers cursed each other. The elephant is six Yojanas in height and twelve Yojanas in length (i.e. from trunk to tail); the tortoise three Yojanas in height and ten Yojanas in girth. Both of them, O bird, had deeply-ingrained enmity for each other. They recollected their previous enmity and fought with each other in this lake with a desire to defeat each other. You get satisfied by eating both of them. Then, bring the nectar.”

61-63. On being directed thus by his father, the bird went (to the lake) and lifted up the elephant and the tortoise of huge body, great strength and excessive valour. With his claws he carried them to the Tīrtha named Vilaṃba. On seeing the king of birds arrived there, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, a tree of very great height named Rohiṇa (which grew on its bank) spoke these words to Garuḍa of great strength and valour:

64-69. “Climb on to this branch of mine, a hundred Yojanas long. Perch on it, O excellent bird, and eat the elephant and the tortoise.”

On being told thus by the tree, the bird with the speed of mind sat on it. On account of his weight, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, that branch of the tree crashed. Garuḍa saw sages, Vālakhilyas, hanging with their heads down from that branch. He became afraid lest they should fall. Garuḍa then caught hold of that branch.

As Garuḍa, son of Vinatā, moved through the sky holding that branch as well as the elephant and the tortoise, his father said to him, “O son of Vinatā, let go this branch on a deserted mountain.”

On being told thus, the bird placed the branch on a deserted mountain and began to eat the elephant and the tortoise. At that time a portent occurred in the sky foreboding a calamity.

70. On seeing the portent, Indra repeatedly asked his preceptor, “O Jīva (i.e. Jupiter), what is the cause of this portent?” Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Bṛhaspati told Indra:

Bṛhaspati said:

71-76. Formerly, O Indra, Sage Kaśyapa performed a Kratu. He despatched all the sages, Suras, Siddhas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras for gathering the requisites for Yajñas.

On seeing Vālakhilyas of a short thumb-like size, who had collected together the requisites and who were about to sink in the water in the pits made by hooves of cows, you laughed (at them). On being insulted by you, O Indra, Vālakhilyas became angry then. With their faces blazing with anger, they performed Homas in the sacrificial fire (praying), “May a son who instils fear in Devendra, be born to Kaśyapa.” His son Garuḍa is now eager to take away nectar. He is on his way to this place. These ill omens forebode that.”

On being told thus, Indra spoke to the Devas, Agni and others:

77. “A bird is coming to take away nectar. Let it be guarded.”

Urged and directed by Indra thus, the Devas equipped with weapons protected the nectar.

78. The king of birds came face to face with the Devas armed with weapons. On seeing the exceedingly powerful Garuḍa, those Suras trembled.

79. A great fight ensued between the Suras and Garuḍa. Bhauvana, the keeper of Nectar, was pierced with the snout of the bird.

80-84. Then the Devas struck Garuḍa with many weapons. Garuḍa was excessively pained and harassed by the Devas armed with weapons. With (flapping of) his wings, he cast off the Devas, the leader among whom was Agni. The Devas who were hit by his wings became extremely furious. They hurled Nārācas (iron

arrows), Bhindipālas (javelins) and many other weapons. Then with great force, with his wings, Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā, raised a lot of dust that blinded the eyes of the Devas. The excellent Devas got the dust storm stopped by wind. With his wings and snout, O Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa harassed Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Maruts and other Suras.

85-90. When the Devas fled, Garuḍa saw Fire-god blazing in front of him. Then he attempted to extinguish the fire that blazed all round.

He adopted a thousand snouts (mouths), drank up hundreds of rivers and with those waters he put out that fire quickly. Thereafter, he saw a discus that whirled round and round. It had sharp edges and it closely guarded the nectar. On seeing it he assumed a tiny form and entered it through the space between two spokes. Thereupon he saw two serpents of exceedingly terrible size with their mouths open. Even merely glanced at by them one would be reduced to ash. But Garuḍa struck and cut them with his wings and snout. Then he seized the nectar and flew up breaking the mechanical device. Mādhava spoke to Garuḍa as he flew up, “O lord of birds, I am pleased with you. Choose a boon, O bird of firm vows.”

Then the bird replied to Had, the Lord of Kamalā:

91-94. “Let there be no old age or death unto me. Let me be able to stay above you (as your flag).” Hari said, “It will be so.” (Then the bird said:) “Let a boon be received from me.” On being told thus Hari said: “You, be my vehicle, O son of Vinatā. Also be my emblem above my chariot.”

The bird too said, “So it will be” to Acyuta, the Lord of Kamalā.

On hearing that the bird had taken away the nectar Indra quickly rushed after him and struck the wing of the bird with his thunderbolt. Thereupon Garuḍa laughingly spoke to Indra:

95-101. “I am not at all pained by being struck with the thunderbolt, O Indra. But, O leader of Suras, let your blow with the thunderbolt be fruitful.” Saying this he dropped down a feather from his wing. Garuḍa became well-known as Suparṇa because his Parṇa (wing) was splendid.

Everyone was surprised on seeing Garuḍa completely golden in colour. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Grauḍa spoke to Indra: “I have the unfailing power, O Devendra, to bear the (burden of) entire universe consisting of mobile and immobile beings along with you, forever. A thousand Indras cannot be a match unto me in battle.”

As Garuḍa spoke thus, Indra asked him thus: “What have you to do with nectar? Let the nectar be given (back) to me. Those people to whom you give this nectar, O son of Vinatā, will become free from old age and death by drinking the nectar. They may become superior to us in strength. They may then harass Devas.”

102-107. As Indra spoke thus, O Brāhmaṇas, Garuḍa said to him: “You may come to the place where I keep this and snatch it away quickly.” On being told thus, Indra said to Garuḍa: “I am pleased with you, O highly intelligent one. I shall grant you a boon. Choose it.” Garuḍa said to Indra when he was addressed thus, “In making my mother a slave (to their mother) the reptiles had employed deceitful means. O Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra and Pāka, let these serpents be my food forever.” On being told thus by Garuḍa, Indra said to him, “It will be so.”

Then Garuḍa who held (the pot of) nectar went on his way, O Brāhmaṇas. As he proceeded ahead, Indra who was eager to retrieve the nectar swiftly followed him, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. After approaching his mother, the lord of the birds spoke to the serpents:

108-113. “O serpents, the nectar is now being kept here on the Darbha grass. Take your holy bath and partake of it calmly when you have become pure. O serpents, let my mother be released from slavery.” The serpents then said to Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā, “It will be so”.

At that moment itself, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Vinatā was liberated from slavery. Those serpents then went for their holy bath to prepare for the consumption of nectar. At that very time, Indra took away (the pot of) nectar. The serpents returned after their bath. They could not see (the pot of) nectar there. Since the pot of nectar had been placed on the Darbha grass, they began to lick the Darbha grass. Since then their tongues were torn asunder by the tips of Darbha. Therefore, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, they are called Dvijihvas (‘Double-tongued’) ever since then. Due to the contact with nectar Darbha grass attained sanctity.

114. After liberating his mother from slavery Garuḍa who was furious, cursed Kadrū who had defeated his mother by fraudulent means:

115-125. “O Kadrū, you have defeated my mother by fraudulent means. Hence you do not deserve to render service to your husband.”

After cursing Kadrū thus, Garuḍa went away as he pleased. Kadrū and Vinatā both approached their husband. Kaśyapa turned away his face from Kadrū and spoke to her angrily: “O Kadrū, since you had defeated Vinatā in a deceitful way, you are unworthy of rendering any service unto me, O wicked woman. If a man or a woman defeats another man or woman by using fraudulent means, he or she shall be a great sinner. By holding conversation with a person who gains victory by means of deceit, one will become (similar to) a Brāhmaṇa-slayer.

It has been declared by sages that a person in association with a thief, drink-addict, defiler of teacher’s bed is contaminated by that association and should be known to be on a par with them. By holding conversation with you, I shall incur a sin that will land me in hell. Hence, O dreadful Kadrū, go away from my presence.

One will immediately fall into the ocean of Naraka by talking to that person on the earth, who takes food in the same row along with someone who gains success by deceitful means.

If one looks at a person who gains victory by deceitful means (one incurs a great sin). To subdue that sin, one should look at the sun, water or fire.

No other person should stay in the hermitage or abode where a cheat or a person who gets success deceitfully lives. If he stays there, he falls into Naraka.

Hence get away, get away from the very path of my sight and from my hermitage. You had defeated this simple-minded Vinatā (by deceit).”

126-130. After reproaching Kadrū, Kaśyapa of great intellect quickly accepted (honoured) Vinatā of excellent conduct. On being told thus harshly by Kaśyapa, Kadrū became exceedingly distressed. Crying (much) she fell down at his feet. Even after seeing her falling at his feet, Kaśyapa, the great sage, did not accept Kadrū, remembering the sin committed by her.

Then Vinatā bowed down to Kaśyapa and spoke these words: “O holy lord, O storehouse of mercy, accept (honour) this sister of mine. Out of ignorance this erring and childish Kadrū has committed a sin now. It behoves you to forgive everything. Indeed good people are kind-natured.”

131-133. On being requested thus by the mother of Garuḍa, Sage Kaśyapa said: “O Vinatā, without the expiatory rite I will not accept this woman of wicked behaviour. I solemnly proclaim it thrice on my honour.”

On hearing the words of Kaśyapa, Vinatā said again: “O Brāhmaṇa, do tell me what atonement has to be performed by my sister for her sin so that she will become one worthy of rendering service unto you.”

134. On being spoken thus by her, O Brāhmaṇas, Kaśyapa, the son of Marīci, meditated for a short while. Afterwards he spoke thus:

135-137a. “On the shore of the Southern sea, in Phullagrāma that bestows salvation, there in a Tīrtha named Kṣīrasaras. It is destructive of sins.^[4] Merely by the holy bath in that Tīrtha, her sin will perish. This sin of hers will not perish even by ten thousand expiatory rites without the holy plunge in that Tīrtha. So let her go to that lake.”

137b-139. When this was said by her husband, Kadrū bowed down to that excellent Brāhmaṇa. Instantly she went to Kṣīrasaras with the help of her sons. After a few days Kadrū reached that meritorious lake Kṣīrasaras. With great purity and the sense-organs controlled she performed the Saṃkalpa rite and took the holy bath in Kṣīrakuṇḍa in accordance with the rules.

140. She observed fast for three days and then bathed in the waters of that Kṣīrasaras. When she was performing the rite of ablution with eagerness on the fourth day, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, there was heard an unembodied voice from the sky:

141-146. The unembodied voice said: “O Kadrū, you are now liberated from the sin of gaining victory by deceitful means, due to your holy plunge here. You are worthy of rendering service to your husband. There is no doubt about it. By taking the holy bath here, the curse imprecated by Garuḍa has gone. Go to your husband. He will accept you.” After saying this the ethereal unembodied voice stopped. Kadrū became delighted in her mind. She bowed down to that voice. She circumambulated the Tīrtha and bowed down to it along with her sons. Along with them, she went to her husband with a desire to serve him.

On seeing her arrived after having taken the holy bath in the waters of Kṣīrasaras and realizing that she was rid of all her sins by means of meditation, Kaśyapa accepted her as his wife and considered her worthy of serving himself.

147-150. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, it has been recounted to you how Kadrū was rid of her sins by taking the holy plunge into the meritorious waters of Kṣīrasaras which bestows salvation to men.

One who listens to this chapter or reads this obtains the excellent merit of the holy bath in Kṣīrakuṇḍa. He enjoys the entire benefit of the Yajñas including horse-sacrifice. He is (on a par with) one who has taken holy bath in all the Tīrthas including Gaṅgā. He who reads this chapter in praise of Kṣīrakuṇḍa obtains the complete merit of those who make a gift of a thousand cows.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cf. Mbh, Ādi 27.13-15.

[2]:

Cf. Mbh, Ādi 28.2-14.

[3]:

The story is adopted from Mbh, Ādi 29.15-24. For Garuḍa’s taking away of nectar cf Mbh, Ādi Chs. 30 to 33.

[4]:

Thus this story from Mbh is used by SkP for the glorification of Kṣīrakuṇḍa.