Astika Parva

Astika Parva

Summary

This is the fifth of the 100 Upa Parvas (Sections), situated in Adi Parva, the first of the 18 Maha Parvas (Books) of the original Mahabharata composed in Sanskrit by Vyasa. This Upa Parva mainly describes the antecedents of the great Sarpa Yaga, organized by King Janamejaya, where the Mahabharata was narrated to him by Vaishampayana. The main contents of this Upa Parva include: Samudra Mathana, mother's curse on Nagas to be burnt in a sacrifice, Garuda stealing Amrita for the Nagas in exchange of his mother's freedom, the birth of Astika to save the snakes from the sacrifice, the death of Parikshit by Naga king Takshaka as per the curse of Shamika Rishi, and the snake sacrifice organized by Parikshit's son Janamejaya which was stopped by Astika.

This Upa Parva has a total of 1025 Shlokas organized into 41 Chapters (Chapters 13 to 53 in Adi Parva). A chapter-wise summary of the Upa Parva is given below, with the Shloka numbers in parentheses:

1. Chapter 13: Shaunaka asks Ugrashrava to tell the story of Astika (1-5). A summary of Astika’s story (6-45).
2. Chapter 14: Kashyapa’s wives Vinata and Kadru are expecting offsprings (1-10). The birth of Aruna, and he curses his mother (11-20). The birth of Garuda (21-23).
3. Chapter 15: The Devas counsel on Mount Meru (1-10). Narayana suggests to churn the ocean (11-13).
4. Chapter 16: Ananta pulls out Mount Mandara and gives it as churning stick (1-10). Kurma holds Mount Mandara on his back; the Devas and the Daityas churn the ocean (11-15). Calamities due to the churning of the ocean (15-25). Narayana provides strength to the tired Devas (26-30). The birth of many lives and articles from the ocean churning (31-37). The birth of Amrita, and Narayana assumes the form of Mohini (38-40).
5. Chapter 17: Based on the information by Surya and Chandra, Narayana in his Mohini form, cuts off the head of Rahu in disguise of a Deva, who was consuming Amirta (1-10). War between the Devas and the Daityas for Amrita; Nara and Narayana bring victory to the Devas (11-25). The Devas install tight security for Amrita (26-30).
6. Chapter 18: A wager between Vinata and Kadru regarding the colour of Ucchaishrava’s tail (1-5). Kadru curses her children – the Nagas (6-10).
7. Chapter 19: Kadru and Vinata see the ocean (1-2). A description of the ocean (3-15).
8. Chapter 20: Vinata loses the wager and becomes a slave to Kadru (1-2). The birth of Garuda, and the Garuda hymn by the Devas (3-15).
9. Chapter 21: The Nagas are troubled by the sun, while Vinata and Garuda were carrying them towards a picnic spot (1-50. Kadru offers prayers to Indra to cause rains (6-15).
10. Chapter 22: Indra revives the Nagas through pouring rains over them (1-5).
11. Chapter 23: Garuda takes the Nagas to an island (1-5). Vinata explains Garuda the reasons for their slavery (6-10). The Nagas ask Garuda for Amrita in exchange for release from slavery (11-12).
12. Chapter 24: Garuda sets out to bring Amrita; Vinata bids him farewell suggesting that he should consume Nishadas as his food, and he should never consume the Brahmans (1-9). Garuda swallows the Nishadas (10-15).
13. Chapter 25: Garuda releases a Brahman that he swallowed accidentally (1-5). Garuda meets his father Kashyapa (6-9). The story of Supratika and Vibhavasu, who were born as an elephant and a tortoise, respectively (10-25). Garuda catches the elephant and the tortoise and takes to the sky (26-30).
14. Chapter 26: Garuda once again takes to the skies carrying the tree branch where Valakhilyas were hanging (1-15). Garuda keeps the tree branch on a hill-top and consumes the elephant and the tortoise (16-25). The Devas see evil-omens and take up their weapons (26-45).
15. Chapter 27: Valakhilyas, insulted by Indra, perform a sacrifice for the birth of Garuda (1-10). As a consequence of this sacrifice, Aruna and Garuda are born in Vinata (11-35).
16. Chapter 28: Garuda defeats the Devas in a fight (1-20). Garuda causes a storm of fire (21-25).
17. Chapter 29: Garuda steals Amrita (1-10). Garuda meets Vishnu in the skies and grants him a boon (11-15). Respecting Indra’s Vajra, Garuda drops one of his feathers, Indra asks Garuda’s friendship (16-20).
18. Chapter 30: Garuda accepts Indra’s friendship (1-5). Indra grants Garuda a boon (6-10). Garuda hands over Amrita to the Nagas, but Indra steals it back (11-20).
19. Chapter 31: Names of the chiefs among the Nagas (1-18).
20. Chapter 32: Shesha abandons his mother and takes to Tapas (1-5). Brahma grants Shesha a boon (6-25).
21. Chapter 33: Vasuki holds a consultation with the other Nagas in order to escape from Kadru’s curse (1-5). The Nagas advise him (6-30).
22. Chapter 34: Elapatra suggests a plan to release themselves from the curse (1-15).
23. Chapter 35: Vasuki confirms from Brahma about Elapatra’s advise and takes special care of his sister Jaratkaru (1-10). He orders the other Nagas to keep a watch on Rishi Jaratkaru (11-13).
24. Chapter 36: The meaning of the term Jaratkaru and Jaratkaru’s Tapas (1-7). While searching for a deer at hunting, Parikshit insults Muni Shamika (8-20). Shamika’s son Shringi hears about this insult (21-25).
25. Chapter 37: Shringi curses Parikshit (1-10). Shamika asks son Shringi to take back the curse (11-25).
26. Chapter 38: When Shringi is not capable of taking back the curse, Shamika sends a word of caution to Parikshit (1-20). Parikshit arranges for his protection (21-30). Takshaka stops a Kashyapa brahmin who was traveling to save Parikshit (31-39).
27. Chapter 39: Takshaka sends back the Kashyapa (1-20). Takshata bites and kills Parikshit (21-30).
28. Chapter 40: The coronation of Janamejaya and his marriage with Vapushtama (1-10).
29. Chapter 41: Conversation between Jaratkaru and his ancestors who are in pain (1-30).
30. Chapter 42: Jaratkaru puts conditions for his marriage (1-5). While he was searching for a bride, Vasuki comes forward to give his sister in marriage (6-20).
31. Chapter 43: Muni Jaratkaru marries Vasuki’s sister Jaratkaru, as per his conditions (1-10). Jaratkaru tries to wake up her husband from sleep when the time was due for evening rituals (11-20). Jaratkaru leaves his wife, saying that she is pregnant with a child (21-35).
32. Chapter 44: Jaratkaru reports the events to her brother Vasuki (1-10). The birth of Astika and his education (11-20).
33. Chapter 45: Janamejaya learns of the circumstances that led to his father’s death (1-25).
34. Chapter 46: Report and evidence of Takshaka bribing the Kashyapa not to protect Parikshit (1-25). Janamejaya decides to take revenge on Takshaka (26-40).
35. Chapter 47: Janamejaya undertakes Sarpa Yaga (1-10). He orders no one to enter the Yaga Shala (11-15). The Yaga begins and the Nagas start to fall into the sacrificial fire (16-25).
36. Chapter 48: The names of the main priests in Sarpa Yaga (1-10). Takshaka comes under Indra’s protection (11-20). Vasuki asks his sister to summon Astika (20-25).
37. Chapter 49: Conversation between Astika and Jaratkaru (1-15). Astika requests entry into Janamejaya’s Yaga Shala (16-25).
38. Chapter 50: Astika praises Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga (1-15).
39. Chapter 51: The priests urge Janamejaya not to grant any boon to Astika till Takshaka falls into the sacrificial fire (1-5). Takshaka slips from Indra’s throne and falls (6-10). Astika asks his boon, but Janamejaya urges him to ask an alternative boon (11-25).
40. Chapter 52: The names of the Nagas that were destroyed in the Sarpa Yaga (1-22).
41. Chapter 53: Astika obtains his boon and stops Takshaka from falling into the sacrificial fire (1-5). The happy Nagas grant boons to Astika (6-20). Shaunaka asks Ugrashrava to narrate the story of Mahabharata, composed by Vyasa, that was narrated to Janamejaya during the Sarpa Yaga (21-35).