Uttanka Persuades Janamejaya to Conduct Sarpa Yajna
Paushya Parva of Mahabharata very clearly throws light into the guru–shishya relationship.
It has one more purpose.
Tells us the background of Uttanka.
Uttanka was the one who instigated Janamejaya to perform Sarpa Yajna meant to destroy Takshaka and his entire clan.
Why did Uttanka do this?
Because Takshaka really gave him a lot of trouble.
Uttanka wanted to give guru dakshina at the end of his studies.
After putting a lot of pressure, his guruji said, 'Go, ask your guru patni. If she says something, get it for her.'
She said, 'Get me the ear ornaments of King Paushya's wife.'
Uttanka went, requested — she happily gave.
But while returning with them, Takshaka stole them and gave a lot of trouble to Uttanka.
There was a deadline. The guru patni wanted them before the fourth day — there was an auspicious vrata that she was going to perform on the fourth day.
But for Indra's help throughout, Uttanka would have missed the deadline and ended up offending his guru patni.
He only went and asked whether she wanted anything.
She did ask for the heavens — just a small thing — if he couldn’t get that to her in time.
Takshaka needs to be punished for his arrogance and evil.
What right does he have to steal somebody's property?
He thinks he can do anything because of his power.
Uttanka had requested him to return the ornaments.
He didn’t listen.
Then Indra had to smoke the entire Naga Loka.
When they suffocated, Takshaka returned the ornaments.
He needs to be punished.
Who will do this?
Janamejaya.
Janamejaya — he had a reason.
Takshaka had brutally killed his father, Raja Parikshit.
Parikshit had not done any harm to Takshaka personally.
So Uttanka went to Janamejaya, in Hastinapura.
Went to his court.
He welcomed Uttanka with great respect.
After the formalities were over, Uttanka asked,
'Don’t you know your priorities?
What are you doing sitting here?'
Janamejaya said,
'Lord, I am looking after the welfare of my subjects — doing everything to keep them safe and prosperous — as a ruler is expected to do.'
'How can you forget your father’s sad death?
Don’t you know how he was killed by Takshaka?
He was a good king — ruled keeping the dignity of the Kuru Vamsha.
Takshaka cheated him — killed him through cheating.
Someone called Kashyapa was on the way to protect him — even him Takshaka turned back.
Don’t you know all these?
Don’t you have Kshatriya blood in your veins?
How can you sit happily like that, as if nothing has happened?
It is your duty to take revenge on Takshaka for your father's death.
Takshaka needs to be punished.
His whole clan of evil serpents needs to be exterminated.
For this there is a yajna called Sarpa Yajna.
In that, you will offer Takshaka and his entire Naga Vamsha as ahutis.
It is a yajna, so you will not incur the sin of himsa also.'
Saying this, Uttanka left the court.
Janamejaya fell into gloom.
He asked his ministers to give him all the details surrounding his father's death.
He was also convinced that his father's death needs to be avenged.
This is the background of the Sarpa Yajna in which Vaisampayana, Vyasa’s shishya, narrated Mahabharata.
English
Mahabharatam
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