By “Soota said, ‘O best of Dwijas (Rishi Shaunaka), hearing these words of Elaapatra, all Naagaas, in great delight, exclaimed, ‘Well said, well said!’ From that time Vaasuki set about carefully bringing up that lady, viz., his sister Jaratkaaru. He took great delight in bringing her up.
“Much time did not pass from this (event of Elapatra’s revealation), when Devas and Asuras, assembling together, churned the abode of Varuna (Samudra Manthan). Vaasuki, the foremost of all gifted with strength, became the churning-cord. Directly the work was over, the king of the snakes (Vaasuki) presented himself before the Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma). Devas, accompanied by Vaasuki, addressed the Pitaamaha, saying, ‘O lord, Vaasuki is suffering great pained from fear of (his mother’s curse). It is your duty to remove the sorrow, begotten of the curse of his mother, that has pierced the heart of Vaasuki desirous of the well-being of his (Naagaa) race. The king of the snakes (Vaasuki) is ever our friend and supporter. O Lord of Devas (Lord Brahma), be gracious to him (Vaasuki) and relieve his mind’s fever.’
“(Lord) Brahma replied, ‘O you immortals (Devas), I have thought, in my mind, of what you have said. Let the king of the snakes (Vaasuki) do that which has been communicated to him before by Elaapatra. The time has arrived. Only those that are wicked (snakes) shall be destroyed, not those that are Dharmic. Jaratkaaru (Vaasuki’s sister) has been born, and that Brahmana (Rishi Jaratkaaru) is engaged in hard Tapas. Let Vaasuki, at the proper time, bestow on him (Rishi Jaratkaaru) his sister. O Devas, what has been spoken by the snake Elaapatra for the welfare of the snakes is true and not otherwise.’
“Soota continued, ‘Then the king of the snakes, Vaasuki, pained with the curse of his mother, hearing these words of the Pitaamaha, and intending to bestow his sister (Jaratkaaru) of the Rishi Jaratkaaru, commanded all snakes, a large numbers of whom were ever attentive to their duties, to watch the Rishi Jaratkaaru, saying, ‘When the lord Jaratkaaru will ask for a wife, come immediately and inform me of it. The well-being of our (snake or Naagaa) race depends upon it.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA – PART 39 – VAASUKI’S WORRY
