Skandapurana 6.3.131

Chapter 131

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / On the southern bank of the Narmadā is the unsurpassed Nāgatīrtha, / where the great serpents achieved perfection, O king, when fear arose.

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / How did severe fear arise, O best of the twice-born, / for the serpents who are a great dread to the world, because of which they engaged in tapas?

Whatever has been, what is now, and what will be among gods, asuras, and humans, / all that is known to you, father; therefore great curiosity is mine.

My distress born of anguish, arising on account of Duryodhana, / has been flooded by the flood from your lotus mouth and reached tranquility.

Having heard the tale sung from your mouth, which destroys sin, / recollection upon recollection has arisen for my hearing, O one of good vows.

No fatigue is proper in a twice-born, nor does anyone else know the fruit
of the great gift of knowledge imparted, and of a son.

Knowing this properly, as to the question asked by me,
let the story be told, O brahmin, taking pity upon me.

Mārkaṇḍeya said:
Just as you speak, O king, so my speech attains joy;
though I am beset with old age through weakness, your friendship never perishes, my dear.

I shall tell an ancient history just as it occurred,
which was told formerly by the elders in unbroken tradition, O Bhārata.

Kaśyapa had two wives, unsurpassed in all the worlds:
Vinatā, [mother] of Garuḍa, and Kadrū, [mother] of the serpents.

From the sighting of a horse, a dispute arose between the two
at dawn, O king of kings—[a horse] whose radiance resembled the sun.

Seeing that horse, white everywhere in form,
Vinatā then said to Kadrū: “Look, look, O fair-faced one!

Look at its resemblance to Uccaiḥśravas, white all over,
running untiringly, swift like the wind!”

Seeing it galloping swiftly, deluded by feelings of jealousy,
thinking it black, she argued with her, O best of kings:

“Vinatā, you speak falsely in this world, cruel woman, disgrace to your family!
Say it is black, though [you call it] white, or you shall go to the deepest hell!”

Vinatā said:
“Whether the statement is true or false, this shall be my wager with you:
I shall become a slave-girl in your house for a thousand years.”

Having agreed with “So be it,” both went to their own house at night,
each overcome and reeling with anger.

Going to the assembly of her relatives, Kadrū told of that wager,
what had occurred with Vinatā in the women’s quarters.

Hearing that, all the relatives, the sons of Kadrū as well,
did not regard as beneficial that disgraceful deed done by their mother.

“How could this best of horses, not black, become black, O mother?
You indeed will fall into slavery by this wager, O virtuous one!”

Kadrū said:
“Act quickly so that I may not become a slave-girl!
Enter the hair-pores of that horse; that is my intention.

Once the task is accomplished for even a moment, she will become my slave-girl.
Then all of you serpents will be at ease and live comfortably.”

The serpents said:
“Though you are recognized as the mother of serpents on earth, O goddess,
even so, she must never be deceived by any means.”

Kadrū said:
“Whichever serpents on earth do not obey my command,
they all shall go into the mouth of the fire without doubt!”

Hearing this terrible curse uttered from their mother’s mouth,
some entered the hair, while others went to dwell on the mountains;

some entered the Gaṅgā, and others engaged in austerity.

Then, at the end of a thousand years, the supreme Lord was pleased;
Mahādeva, the creator of the world, spoke in an exalted voice:

“O serpents, desist! Great is the fruit of this austerity.
Whatever you desire, I give today; there need be no hesitation here.”

The serpents said:
“Afraid from the fear of Kadrū’s curse, O God of gods, Maheśvara,
we wish to dwell by your side until the dissolution of all beings.”

The God of gods said:
“This mighty-armed Vāsuki alone, the best of serpents,
shall dwell constantly by my side, the protector of all from fear.

And for the other serpents, there is no fear, by my command.
Having bathed in the waters of the Narmadā, those serpents are protected.

There is no fear of death for them; dwell wherever you wish.
There is no fear of Kadrū’s curse; this indeed is my supreme assurance.”

Having thus granted them a boon, the God of gods, Maheśvara,
entering the sky, departed to the Kailāsa mountain.

When the god had vanished, O king, [the serpents] led by Vāsuki,
having consecrated the God of gods, Maheśvara, departed likewise.

Whoever worships Śiva at that sacred ford on the fifth day,
the eight families of serpents never harm him.

Dying after a long time at that sacred ford, O king,
he becomes an attendant of Śiva and dwells [with him] for the desired time.

Thus ends the one hundred and thirty-first chapter, entitled 'Description of the Māhātmya of Nāgeśvara Tīrtha,' in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth section, the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.