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DUNDUBHA--SAHASRAPAT'S STORY

         
The Dundubha (Sahasrapat) had a friend named Khagama. He possessed great spiritual powers. Whatever he uttered never went futile. One day when Khagama was engaged in Agni-hotra(Fire-sacrifice), Sahasrapat made an animated snake of blades of grass. He  tried to frighten Khagama with it. Khagama lost his consciousess immidiately. On recovering he cried out,’’Just as you have mocked me with a powerless  snake, you yourself will turn into one.’’ Sahasrapat was thunderstruck. He pleaded,’’I just wanted to have some fun, dear friend. I had no intention of hurting you. Please forgive me and take back your words.’’
On seeing him so disturbed,Khagama said,’’I cannot take back my words. But take solace , for you will be delivered from the curse the moment you spot Ruru,Pramati’s son.’’ That moment had arrived. Ruru was right there in front of him.
 Sahasrapat left his snake body and attained his own form and original brightness. He told Ruru a few things for his own good.’’ Always remember  that,Ahimsa is the highest virtue of a Brahmana, thus a Brahmana never should take the life of any creature. He should be benevolent, truthful and forgiving. His paramount duty is to retain the vedas in his memory. Do not follow the ideals of a Kshatriya. To be stern,to wield arms and to rule his subjects are the duties of a Kshatriya.  The Kshatriya king Janamejaya’s snake-sacrifice had wreaked havoc  in the serpent world.  Astika, the powerful and benevolent Brahmana, profound in Vedic knowledge then  delivered the snakes from their misery.’’
Saying all this he vanished from  sight. Ruru looked hard but couldn’t find him. Dejected, he went back to his ashrama and learnt about the famous Sarpa-yajna [snake-sacrifice] from his father.


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