T for Takshaka, the Naga King - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaskar, 

We have read about Takshaka in . He is the king of Nagas from the Patala (underground kingdom) and isa descendant of the Airavata family. 

Takshaka was first mentioned in Adi Parva when hestole earrings from Rishi Uttanka. This incident angered Uttanka, who laterwent to King Janamejaya’s court in Hastinapura and informed him of Takshaka’srole in the death of Parikshit (J’s father). 

Parikshit was a capable and loving ruler ofHastinapura. One day, however, during a hunt, he was tired and went to arishi's ashram, where he insulted a rishi who was in maun-vrat (vow of silence) by placing a dead snake around his shoulders. Though therishi forgave the king, his son Sringin cursed Parikshit that he would die in aweek due to a snake bite. The old rishi sent his student to inform Parikshit about the curse. 

Parikshit then built a tower with no doors and windowsand stayed in it. Many rishis, even from far-off places, arrived to treat himif the need arose. However, Takshaka found a way to hide in a basket of fruitscarried by the rishis. When Parikshit grabbed a fruit, Takshaka rose from the basketand bit the king, ending his life as per the curse. 

This information made Janamejaya angry, which led tothe snake sacrifice. Of course, we know that even that wasn’t successful, andTakshaka was saved in the last moment when Janamejaya agreed to grant Astika’sboon. 

If we see the events, we notice how determinedTakshaka was to end Parikshit’s life. But why? 

Well, we could say the answer lies in the past. Takshaka and hisfamily lived in the Kandava forest, the same one Agni wanted to consume asfood. Arjuna and Krishna helped Agni devour the forest, which led to the deathof Takshaska’s family (he wasn’t in the forest when the incident occurred). Hiswife saved their son, Asvasena, in the burning. 

However, Asvasena wanted revenge and waited manyyears. When Karna and Arjuna had a face-off on the 17th day of the Kurukshetra War, Asvasena became anarrow in Karna’s quiver. Krishna saw this and pressed the chariot wheels intothe ground, thus causing the arrow (Asvasena) to strike Arjuna’s crown.Asvasena asked Karna to use his as an arrow again, but Karna refused, saying hedidn’t need anyone's help to kill Arjuna. Asvasena attacked Arjuna directly butwas killed by his arrows. 

We can assume that Takshaka held Arjuna responsible for everything.When Parkishit was cursed, he made sure it was he who fulfilled the curse andgot his revenge by killing Arjuna’s grandson. It took Astika and Janamejaya tocreate a truce between the Kurus and Nagas.  

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