Bhima and the python

The Pandavas had already completed ten years of their exile. Arjuna was back with the rest after his adventures in heaven.

The Pandavas, one day, had a discussion on their future strategy. Bhima and Arjuna were of the opinion that they needed to move away in preparation for their year of stay in disguise. They had already stayed too long in the Gandhamadana mountain ranges. The idea appealed to all. They decided to return to the Dwaita forest where they lived for a short while earlier.

One day Bhima went hunting all alone deep into the forest. Suddenly he was caught by a python. Bhima who had the combined strength of one thousand elephants was unable to free himself from the hold of the python. He was surprised. He asked the python who he was.

The python replied. “I was once the king of gods (Devendra). I mistreated sage Agastya who cursed me to become a python. When I asked for forgiveness, the sage said that I have to wait for someone to answer my questions satisfactorily. Then, I shall get back to my formal life”.
(Other Puranas give more details of the incident. Nahusha was an ordinary king and was made the king of gods temporarily. He was after the wife of the real Indra (Indrani) during that time. But, Indrani did not want to submit herself to the lust of Nahusha. So, she put a stiff condition. Nahusha should visit her carried by sages. Nahusha, enamoured by her beauty, agreed. The great sage, Agastya, was one among those who carried Nahusha He was short in stature and could not keep pace with the rest. So, Naahusha, out of impatience, kicked him and said “move, move! (Sarpa)”. Agastya was angered by the arrogance of Nahusha. The sage cursed Nahusha to become a python, that being another meaning of the word “Sarpa”).

Yudhishthira soon came looking for Bhima. He was also surprised finding the formidable Bhima lying helpless in the hold of a python. The python repeated his story to Yudhishthira and started asking a series of questions. The wise Yudhishthira answered them all correctly. At the end the python got its original form as king Nahusha. Bhima was saved. It was the turn of Nahusha to give valuable advices to the Pandavas before he disappeared from the scene.
This ends the “chapter on python (Ajagara Parvam)”.