16 – Vinata cursed by her son

“(Rishi) Shaunaka said, ‘O Soota, narrate once more in detail this history of the learned and Dharmic Aastika. Our curiosity for hearing it is great. O friendly one (Soota), you speak sweetly, with proper accent and emphasis; and we are well-pleased with your speech. You speak like your father. Your father was ever ready to please us. Tell us now the story as your father had narrated it.’

“Soota said, ‘O you that are blessed with longevity (Rishi Shaunaka), I shall narrate the history of Aastika as I heard it from my father. O Brahmana (Shaunaka), in the Deva yuga, Prajaapati had two daughters. O sinless one (Shaunaka), the sisters were provided with wonderful beauty. Named Kadru and Vinata, they became the wives of (Maharishi) Kaashyapa. Kaashyapa derived great pleasure from his two wedded wives and being pleased he (Maharishi Kaashyapa), resembling Prajaapati himself, offered to give each of them a boon.

“Hearing that their lord (Maharishi Kaashyapa) was willing to confer on them their choice boon, those excellent ladies felt elated with joy. Kadru wished to have for sons a thousand snakes (Naagaas in Sanskrit) all of equal glory. Vinata wished to bring forth two sons surpassing the thousand children of Kadru in strength, energy, size of body, and skills.

“To Kadru her lord (Maharishi Kaashyapa) gave that boon about a multitude of children. To Vinata also, Kaashyapa said, ‘Be it so!’ Then Vinata, having; obtained her prayer, rejoiced greatly. Obtaining two sons of superior skills, she regarded her boon fulfilled. Kadru also obtained her thousand sons of equal splendour. Kaashyapa said, ‘Bear the embryos carefully,’ and then he went into the forest, leaving his two wives pleased with his blessings.’

“Soota continued, ‘O best of Dwijas (Dwija means twice-born, while the first birth is natural, the second birth occurs upon realising the Supreme Soul) (here Soota refers to Rishi Shaunaka as a Dwija), after a long time, Kadru brought out a thousand eggs, and Vinata two. Their maid-servants deposited the eggs separately in warm vessels. Five hundred years passed away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the children. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped.

“At this, the child in the egg became angry and cursed his mother (Vinata), saying, ‘Since you have prematurely broken this egg, you shall serve as a slave. You should wait five hundred years and not destroy or make the other egg half-developed by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious child (from the other egg) within it will relieve you from slavery! If you would have the child strong, you must take tender care of the egg for all this time!’

“Thus, cursing his mother (Vinata), the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana (Shaunaka), he (that child whose upper part is developed and lower part undeveloped is known as Arunaa) is the charioteer of Surya (the Sun God), always seen in the hour of morning!

“Then at the expiration of the five hundred years, bursting open the other egg, out came Garuda, the snake-eater. O tiger of Bhrigu’s race (Rishi Shaunaka), immediately on seeing the light, that son of Vinata (Garuda) left his mother. The lord of birds (Garuda), feeling hungry, took wing in quest of the food assigned to him by the Great Ruler of all.”

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA – PART 16 – VINATA CURSED BY HER SON