The Story of Nahusha

Nahusha was a king of the Chandra-vamsha who had performed 98 ashvamedha yajnas. He was full of all good qualities and was very humble.

In the meantime, the demigods had temporarily lost their king Indra due to a curse; the demons were causing trouble, so they needed to put someone on the throne to act as the King of Heaven. They researched all over the universe and decided that Nahusha would be the best choice, especially since he'd performed 98 ashvamedha-yajnas, and when one performs 100, he becomes qualified to be Indra anyway.

So lokapalas like Agni and Vayu appeared before Nahusha and told him, "We have a request. Please fulfill it."

Nahusha was astonished: "You are requesting me? What can I give you, the great Lokapalas?"

So they requested him to become Indra, but he refused, saying he'd not done the sacrifices for that purpose, but for the benefit of the world. He said also that with his earthly opulence he was already so troubled by false pride; if he went heaven, it would be much worse.

Finally the demigods had to simply order him to be Indra. So he agreed at last.

When he entered the palace of Indra in Heaven and was shown the simhasana, he was astonished. When he was asked to sit in it and begin the office of Indra, he was even more astonished. He paid his obeisances to the throne and gingerly sat in it, feeling most unworthy.

But gradually he began to take his position for granted, and the throne of Indra seemed more and more of a right rather than a priviledge to Nahusha. One day he thought, "Why am I not being transported about in a palanquin like Indra?" So he demanded that 300 demigods assemble to carry him. And this was done, and he felt very proud.

Then he thought, "But rishis are higher than demigods. Being carried by them would even be a greater honor for me. And in any case, these rishis are too independent - when I'm holding court, they don't come so much, and so it's time I assert my authority over them."

So he ordered 1000 rishis to carry him. And it was done. And he became even more proud.

Then he overheard someone say, "This Nahusha has become so great that he's enjoying every facility of Indra except his Indrani" (Indra's wife, who was staying at home in the absence of her husband).

So he wrote a note to Indrani: "I want to see you. You come tomorrow to the court." She answered, "I am Inrani, but not your wife," and did not come. Then he wrote another note. "Tomorrow I shall come to see you. You are Indrani, I am Indra, so it is my right."

So after receiving this note, she prayed to the Saptarishis. They appeared, and she explained her plight to them. So they told her what to do.

So she wrote back, "I will see you if you come to my place carried by the Saptarishis." So Nahusha went to Brhashpati and ordered him to call the Seven Sages. Brhashpati was astonished and asked why, and when Nahusha told him, he said, "You don't know anything about the way things work up here. The Seven Sages are not your servants, especially not so in your plans to steal another man's wife." But Nahusha was adamant, and thinking that he'd soon see Nahusha's demise, Brhaspati called for tje Seven Sages. Much to his surprise, they actually agreed to Nahusha's proposal.

But while carrying Nahusha, six sages took one side of the palanquin, and Agastya Muni took the other side. Agastya Muni was only a few inches tall. Naturally, this meant that the palanquin was somewhat tilted. Plus, by this arrangement, the sages were moving along quite slowly.

Nahusha was naturally very disturbed by this, and began to rebuke the sages angrily. "Don't you know anything about serving your King? This is no way to carry a royal palanquin. Why is this side so tilted? And why are you moving so slowly? I am in a hurry, can't you see?"

So he looked and saw the little Muni on that side, and he became so angry that he even wanted to kick him. He shouted, "Sarpa, sarpa!" which means "Quickly, quickly!"

At this point Agastya cursed Nahusha, saying "You become sarpa (ser-pent)."

So Nahusha fell out of heaven in the form of a snake, twisting and turning in the sky. Later on he was delivered from that condition by Bhima and Yudhisthira.