MAHABHARATA : The Narration

MAHABHARATA : The Narration

An imaginary scene of the war from mahabharata

For the millions of Hindus across the entire Indian subcontinent, Mahabharata is the largest source of the information about their religion and culture. Mahabharata is the story which tells about the war held between two groups of cousins, in the form of poem. And this story is ultimately the largest written record in the history of mankind, it is about 1.8 million words in total. The reason why this epic is so lengthy is because the epic employs a structure of story within story. Being an Indian we all must be knowing pretty enough about this Epic, but there are a million of things what we don't know about. Very few people are aware of how this story actually begins. 

The conclave of sages in Naimisha forest

So the story commences from the ending of the Mahabharata.

On the banks of Gomti river, Uttar pradesh a forest called "Naimisha" situated between earlier Kausala and Panchala reigns, was the place where the whole Mahabharata was being narrated by Ugrasrava sauti during a conclave of sages. Who gathered for a massive sacrifice ( Yagya), which lasted straight for 12 years, headed by the sage Saunaka. This yagya is believed to be held for the peace of the world.

sarpa satra by Janmejaya

Ugrasrava Sauti had actually witnessed this story in Taxila where another massive sacrifice (Sarpa Satra) was taking place, and therefore that was the first ever time when the whole "Bharata" was being narrated. This "yagna" was led by "Janmejaya"( the great grand son of Arjuna). In the revenge of his father's death, whose name was "Parikshit", who died because of being bitten by a snake named "Takshak". " (Takshak in the Indian mythology is considered as the king of serpents). This sacrifice (sarpa satra) was intended to wipe all the snakes out from this planet who caused the death of his father.

Parikshit putting snake on Shameek's shoulder

There is another story about why emperor Parikshit was being bitten by Takshak. That is, once Parikshit went out on a hunt to a forest. He targeted a deer but the deer ran away. Chasing it, the king went deep into the forest but he could not find the deer anywhere. After all, he was an old man now. He was tired and hungry. After a while, he came across an ascetic named Shameek. Shameek had taken an oath of silence. The king asked him whether he could rest and drink some water, but did not get a reply. This annoyed the king to a great extent. Without realizing that the ascetic had taken an oath of silence, the king decided to insult him for his impudence. He picked up a dead snake with his bow and placed it on the ascetic’s shoulder. Even then, Shameek was unprovoked and remained in meditation. Finally when he could not get any reaction from the ascetic, the king simply shrugged and returned to his kingdom.

Takshak in the sarpsatra

Shameek had a son named Shringi. He was a splendid and powerful boy. When he heard from a friend that king Parikshit had insulted his father thus, he was furious. He took some water in his hand and cursed Parikshit, "In seven days, the evil person who put a dead snake on my innocent father will be bitten by the vicious and poisonous snake, Takshak.

Let the people watch my powers.

After that, Takshak put on a disguise and stealthily entered the palace. He entered Parikshit’s chambers as a caterpillar in an apple. When Parikshit cut open the apple, the caterpillar Takshak emerged. He grew huge and then bit Parikshit to death.

Takshak

When the sacrifice was on swing Takshak got terrified of the consequences about what will happen to the whole species of the snakes after the completion of the yagya. So he approached Ved Vyasa to stop Janmejaya to continue the sacrifice. Then Ved Vyasa appeared at the site and compelled Janmejaya to stop the yagya in return Janmejaya asked Ved Vyasa to narrate the story of his ancestors. Then onwards Ved Vyasa commanded his disciple Vaisampayana to narrate the whole Bharata and this whole incidence was witnessed by Ugrasrava sauti.