Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4021.1

c9.4021.1

VĀSUKI. One of the famous Nāgas (serpents). 1) *Birth.* The uragas and nāgas (serpents) were born to Prajāpati Kaśyapa by his wife Kadrū. Vāsuki, the eldest son of Kadrū spent his childhood with his parents. 2) *Difference of opinion.* Vinatā and Kadrū staked on the colour of the tail of Uccaiśśravas (A horse obtained at the churning of the sea of Milk. To win the stake, Kadrū asked her sons to hang on the tail of Uccaiśśravas as black hairs. But the truthful Vāsuki was not prepared to do so. Kadrū cursed Vāsuki and the others who sided with him. From that day onwards Vāsuki and those who were cursed, separated from their mother and formed into a serpent group. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapters 37 and 48).