Jivitputrika Vrat Katha

In ancient times, once King Jimutavahana was wandering in the forests of the sea-coast along with his brother-in-law Mitravasu that in the meantime he saw an agitated young man coming towards him and behind him an old woman was coming making a pathetic cry, saying - "Alas my son, alas my son!" A man similar to a soldier coming behind left that youth near a high rock. Jimutavahana asked that youth - "Who are you and what do you want? Why is your mother wailing for you?"

In answer to these questions, that youth, describing the entire account before Jimutavahana, said - "In ancient times, a dispute arose between the two wives of Kashyapa, Vinata and Kadru, in the context of some story. Kadru said that the horses of the Sun are black and Vinata said they are white. On this very matter they made a bet among themselves that whose words turned out to be false, she would become the slave of the other. With the desire for victory, Kadru got the color of the Sun's horses turned black through the poisonous hiss of her sons, the serpents, and became victorious through deceit. Thereafter, Kadru made Vinata a slave. It is true that the mutual jealousy of women is also painful.

When this incident became known to Vinata's son Garuda, he peacefully prayed to Kadru to free his mother from slavery. Then Kadru's sons, the Nagas, after discussing among themselves said - 'O Garuda! The deities have just started the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Kshirasagara). Because you are extremely powerful, therefore in return for your mother's freedom, bring Amrita (nectar) from there and give it to us, thereafter receive your mother.'

Hearing these words of the Nagas, Garuda went to the Ocean of Milk for Amrita and displayed extreme manliness. Being pleased with Garuda's prowess, Lord Vishnu himself said to Garuda - 'I am extremely pleased with you, so ask for some boon.' Garuda, who was angry at the insult of his mother's slavery, asked for a boon from the Lord that - 'Nagas be my food.' The Lord said "Tathastu" and gave him this very boon. Thereafter, when Garuda started walking after obtaining Amrita by his prowess, then the knower of truth, Indra, said to him - 'O King of Birds! You should do something so that those foolish serpents cannot drink the Amrita. Therefore, I will take it away from the serpents.' Hearing this, the fierce Garuda, by the boon of Vishnu, accepted this proposal of Indra and went near the serpents with the Amrita-kalash (pot of nectar).

Garuda said to the Nagas, who were terrified by the influence of the boon, that - 'I have brought the Amrita, receive it after freeing my mother from slavery. If you have fear of me, then I place it on the seat of Kusha grass and take my mother free. You people accept it.'

The Nagas said - 'It is proper, you do like this.' On being told thus, Garuda placed the Amrita-kalash on the holy seat of Kusha grass and the Nagas freed Garuda's mother Vinata. After Garuda departed after freeing his mother from slavery, when the Nagas gathered to drink Amrita fearlessly, then Indra, by his power, took away the Sudha-kalash (pot of nectar) kept on the Kusha seat.

The disappointed Nagas thought that possibly some Amrita might have fallen and stuck to the Kusha, so they began to lick the Kusha grasses. Due to licking the Kusha grasses, their tongues became divided into two parts. The Nagas obtained this result due to extreme greed. Garuda, the enemy of the Nagas who were deprived of the taste of Amrita, began to attack and eat the Nagas repeatedly due to the boon of Lord Vishnu. As a result of Garuda's attack, the entire Patala (underworld) became agitated. Due to fear, the serpents became as if lifeless. The pregnant Naga-wives began to have miscarriages and many Nagas lost their lives just from this fear.

Seeing this kind of terror daily, the King of Nagas, Vasuki, thought that in this way the entire Nagaloka will be destroyed suddenly and Garuda is also invincible. Thinking thus, he made a rule along with Garuda that daily one Naga will be sent to the mountain on the sea-coast for Garuda's meal. Then the King of Nagas said to Garuda that - 'Don't come into Patala to cause disturbance or spread terror. Otherwise, in this way, upon all the Nagas being destroyed at once, your self-interest will also not be served.' Garuda also accepted this arrangement and he began to eat one Naga daily sent by Vasuki. Therefore, in that same sequence of Naga slaughter, today is my turn. My name is Shankhachuda. I too have been brought to this Vadhyashila (slaughter-rock) for Garuda's food today by the command of the King of Nagas. Therefore, I am becoming distressed and pitiable for my mother."

Hearing Shankhachuda's words thus and being moved by his sorrow, Jimutavahana said to him with regret - "Oho! How meaningless it is for Vasuki to be the Naga King, who himself is making his subjects the food of the enemy. Why did he not first present himself for Garuda's food? Rather, contrary to this, like an impotent person, he accepted the destruction of his own family. On the other hand, Garuda too, being a descendant of Rishi Kashyapa, is committing such a grave sin. Even great men have so much attachment towards this body. That's why today I will protect you, one Naga, by donating my own body. You don't grieve in vain."

Hearing this, Shankhachuda also said with patience - "O Mahatma! Don't say such a thing again. It is not proper to lose a pearl for glass. I too don't want to become a family-stain." Saying thus and stopping Jimutavahana, that gentlemanly Naga Shankhachuda went to pay his final salutations to Lord Shiva named Gokarna residing on the sea-shore, seeing the time of Garuda's arrival. Upon his departure, the ocean of mercy Jimutavahana got the opportunity to donate his life for his protection. Then he cleverly sent his companion Mitravasu away from there on the pretext of some work. At that same time, the earth, trembling with the wind of the wings of Garuda who appeared there, began to rotate as if being surprised by the sight of that great man. Being alert by this sign of Garuda's arrival, the benevolent Jimutavahana climbed onto that Vadhyashila.

Garuda, who had covered the sky with the shadow of his huge wings, picked up that great being Jimutavahana by hitting with his beak. Taking Jimutavahana, with a flowing stream of blood, to the mountain peak, he began to eat him. At that same time, a shower of flowers began to fall from the sky, by which Garuda also became surprised. In the meantime, Shankhachuda also returned after saluting Gokarneshwar Shiva and seeing the Vadhyashila drenched with blood, began to think - "Fie on me, that Mahatma has surely given his life for me. Where must Garuda have taken him at this time? I will search for him quickly. It is possible, I may find him." Thinking thus, that gentleman began to walk following the stream of blood.

On the other side, seeing Jimutavahana happy, Garuda left eating him and began to look at him with surprise. This is not a Naga, it is some other being, who is not dead even on my eating him, but on the contrary is being happy. Thinking thus in his mind, Jimutavahana said to Garuda for his wish-fulfillment - "O King of Birds! Still blood and flesh remain in my body. Even then, why have you suddenly stopped eating without being satisfied?" Hearing this, the surprised Garuda asked - "O Gentleman! You are not a Naga, so tell who you are?"

Jimutavahana said - "I am a Naga only, you eat. Finish what you have started. Great persons don't leave any work after starting it without finishing." Jimutavahana was saying such when Shankhachuda shouted from a distance and said - "O Garuda! Don't eat him, don't, he is not a Naga, I am your food Naga! How did you have this sudden delusion? Free him."

Hearing this, the King of Birds, Garuda, became extremely agitated and Jimutavahana felt regret that his desired goal was not achieved. Thereafter, being distressed in the context of mutual conversation and finding out that he is the King of Vidyadharas and on eating him by delusion, Garuda had a heavy mental fever. He began to think - "A cruel person like me committed a grave sin. It is easy or natural for sin to be committed by persons of unrestrained nature. He is a praiseworthy Mahatma, who is giving his life for the benefit of others. I, out of ignorance, made the world low."

Having repented thus and thinking of giving up life by being burnt in fire for freedom from sin, Jimutavahana said to Garuda - "O King of Birds! Why are you being sad? If in reality you are terrified of sin, then from today give up eating these serpents and for those whom you have already eaten in the past, repent for them. This is its atonement or reaction. Apart from this, everything else is vain to think."

On being told thus by Jimutavahana, who has mercy on living beings, Garuda considered his word like a master's command and thereafter he went to get Amrita to bring to life the Nagas already eaten. Mother Gauri herself, being satisfied with the devotion of his wife Malayavati, sprinkled Amrita on Jimutavahana with lacerated limbs. Due to the sprinkling of Amrita by Mother Gauri herself, Jimutavahana's limbs became more beautiful and his great splendor increased. Seeing Jimutavahana, who rose up being healthy along with the singing and playing of joyful deities, Garuda showered Amrita on the entire sea-coast. Due to the influence of this sprinkling of Amrita, all the Naga-skeletons scattered here and there on the coast came to life again. As a result, that sea-shore forest was filled with groups of Nagas and they got freedom from the fear of Garuda forever.

It seemed as if the entire Patala had appeared there to see Jimutavahana, the protector of the Nagakula. Thereafter, the entire relatives congratulated Jimutavahana, adorned with an imperishable body and imperishable fame. Jimutavahana's wife and his parents were all extremely pleased. At Jimutavahana's word, Shankhachuda also departed to Rasatala and Jimutavahana's fame shone in all three worlds. Thereafter, groups of deities coming near Garuda began to salute Jimutavahana. By the grace of Mother Parvati, Jimutavahana's relative named Matanga also came and began to salute him out of fear, who were previously against him. On being prayed to by those previously opposing relatives, Jimutavahana along with his wife Malayavati and dear friend Mitravasu departed from Malayachala to his ancient capital situated in Himachala. In this way, that patient Jimutavahana enjoyed the post of Vidyadhara-Chakravarti for a long time. In this way, the Jivitputrika Vrat Katha described in the Bhavishya Purana and Skanda Purana is completed.

॥ Thus ends the Jivitputrika Vrat Katha ॥