By Check out what Mahabharat says about animal cureality and how Santana Dharma treats animals as no less than humans. Here in this episode King Janamejaya was cursed by the Dog Mother. Check out what exactly happened and how it all happened with valuable lessons.
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – PAUSHYA (UPA) PARVA – PART 3(A) – SARAMA ASKS FOR JUSTICE
“Soota (the son of Lomaharshana – the person who is re-narrating the entire Mahabharata to Rishis in the Naimisha forest, which was first narrated to humans by Rishi Vaishampayana at the Sarpa Satra) said,
“Janamejaya – the son of Parikshit (who is the grandson of Arjuna and the son of Abhimanyu), was with his brothers, attending his long yajna on the plains of Kurukshetra. His (Janamejaya’s) brothers were three – Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. As they were sitting at the yagna, there arrived at the spot the child of Sarama (the divine dog). Beaten by the brothers of Janamejaya, he (the child of Sarama) ran away to his mother (Sarama), crying in pain.
“His mother (Sarama) seeing him crying exceedingly asked him, ‘Why are you crying like this? Who has beaten you?’ Being thus questioned, he said to his mother (Sarama), ‘I have been beaten by the brothers of Janamejaya.’ His mother (Sarama) replied, ‘Have you committed some fault for which have you been beaten?’ He (the child of Sarama) answered, ‘I have not committed any fault. I have not touched the butter kept for yagna with my tongue, nor I have even cast a look upon it.’
“His mother Sarama hearing this and much upset at the pain of her son went to the place where Janamejaya with his brothers was at his long-extending yagna. She addressed Janamejaya in anger, saying, ‘This my son has committed no fault: he has not looked upon your butter that has been kept for yagna, nor has he touched it with his tongue. For what reason has he been beaten?’ They said not a word in reply; immediately after which she (Sarama) said, ‘As you have beaten my son who has committed no fault, therefore shall evil come upon you, when you least expect it.’
“Thus addressed by the divine dog Sarama, Janamejaya became exceedingly alarmed and dejected. After the yagna was concluded he returned to Hastinaapura, and began to take great efforts in searching for a Purohita who could by getting absolution (Prayaschit in Sanskrit) for his sin, neutralise the effect of the curse.
“One day Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, while on hunting, observed in a particular part of his territory an ashrama where a certain Rishi of fame named Srutasrava stayed. He had a son named Somasrava deeply engaged in Tapas devotions. Being desirous of appointing that son of the Rishi (Srutasrava’s son – Somasrava) as his Purohita, Janamejaya – the son of Parikshit, saluted the Rishi (Srutasrava) and addressed him, saying, ‘O possessor of the six attributes (Gnana, Vairaagya, Aishwarya, Balaa, Sri and Keerthi), let this your son (Somasrava) be my Purohita.’
“The Rishi (Srutasrava) thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, ‘O Janamejaya, this my son, deep in Tapas devotions, accomplished in the study of Vedas, and provided with the full force of my Tapas, is born of (the womb of) a she-snake that had drunk my vital (reproductive) fluid. He is able to absolve you from all offences save those committed against Mahaadeva (Lord Shiva). But he has one particular habit, viz. he would give to any Brahmana whatever might be begged of him (here begging means Bhiksha in Sanskrit). If you can manage with it, then you take him.’
“Janamejaya thus addressed replied to the Rishi (Srutasrava), ‘It shall be so.’ Accepting him for his Purohita, he (Janamejaya) returned to his capital (Hastinaapura); and he then addressed his brothers (Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena) saying, ‘This is the person I have chosen for my Upaadhyaaya; whatsoever he may say must be obeyed by you without examination.’ His (Janamejaya’s) brothers did as they were directed. Giving these directions to his brothers, the king (Janamejaya) marched towards Takshyashila (present-day Taxila in the Rawalpindi district of Punjab, Pakistan) and brought that country under his authority.
