Why did Sheshnag’s mother curse him? | The Origin and Complete Story of Sheshnag

Why did Sheshnag’s mother curse him? | The Origin and Complete Story of Sheshnag

Do you know that the ground on which we stand, the sky we see and the waves of the oceans we feel, the weight of this entire cosmic system rests on the thousand ears of a superpower. The Puranas say that even when this world did not exist, He existed and even when everything will be dissolved in the ocean of destruction, He will still remain. Today we are starting the unheard epic of that eternal superpower Sheshnag, which is not just the story of a snake but a living example of renunciation of Dharma and Adharma and supreme devotion.

Imagine the beginning of creation when this universe was in its infancy. Brahma ji was expanding the world through his mental children. One of those mental sons was the extremely powerful Maharishi Kashyap. Maharishi Kashyap was not an ordinary sage. He is considered the best among the Prajapatis and the ancestor of the entire animate and inanimate world. His radiance was like that of the Sun and his penance was so intense that even Lord Indra himself used to consult him. Maharishi Kashyap was married to the daughters of King Daksha. Among them, Kadru and Vinata were his most beloved wives. But in terms of nature, both stood at opposite poles. Where Vinata was simple, gentle and devoted to her husband, the fire of ambition remained burning within Kadru. She had a desire for superiority and always wanted to surpass her co-wife Vinata. One day, Maharishi Kashyap, after completing his penance, was sitting in a happy mood. He called both his wives near him and said, Kadru, Vinata, I am very pleased with the service and loyalty of both of you. Today both of you can ask me for any boon you wish. Tell me what is your wish? Kadru, who always had the desire to establish dominance through numerical strength and power, did not delay even for a moment. She moved forward and touching the feet of the sage said, Swami, if you are pleased with me then give me the boon that I become the mother of one thousand such snake sons who are extremely powerful, whose poison makes the directions tremble and whose brilliance spreads over the entire underworld. Sage Kashyap smiled and said, So be it. Now the sage looked towards Vinata. Vinata had heard the boon of her co-wife. She knew that her strength might fall short in front of a thousand sons. But she was a worshiper of virtues, not of numbers.

She said with great humility, with folded hands, O Arya Putra, I do not want a thousand sons. Give me only two sons. But they should be such that they are more brilliant, stronger and more powerful than the thousand sons of Kadru. His brilliance would put even the gods to shame. Maharishi Kashyap accepted this prayer of Vinata and blessed her too. After granting the boon, Maharishi sanctified both the wives for conception and after some time Kadru laid one thousand eggs, whereas Vinata laid only two eggs. Those eggs were kept safe in hot vessels as per the instructions of Maharishi. Now it was time to wait. The pace of time continued in its own rhythm. Days turned into months and months into years. Both Kadru and Vinata were engrossed in protecting and nurturing their eggs. Kadru always had this doubt in his mind as to when his thousand sons would come out, while Vinata calmly awaited her two brilliant sons whose destiny was to change the history of the universe. Five hundred years passed. This period of five hundred years was not an ordinary time. This was the pinnacle of patience. One day suddenly there was a commotion in the pots. One by one they started hatching a thousand eggs. A strange energy and buzz resonated throughout the room. From those eggs emerged such brilliant snakes whose hoods shone like gold and whose eyes were filled with fire. The first one to come out of that group of snakes was Shesh. When Shesh appeared, a divine light was emanating from his thousand hoods. Behind them came out Vasuki, Airavata, Takshaka and other sons of the Nagas. The entire underworld was agitated by the birth of those snakes. The gods showered flowers from heaven because they realized that a great power had been born to balance the universe. That moment of Sheshnag’s birth was extremely divine. He was the eldest among his brothers and did not have the ferocity on his face that a normal snake has. There was an infinite peace and depth in his eyes, as if they had brought with them the knowledge of their previous births at birth. In the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, there is a very important verse regarding the origin of these snakes. That Nagraj knows Kadru’s son Mahabala. Gyare Parthiva Streshthaya Kaduh Putra Sahasrani. It means those thousand sons of Maharishi Kashyap and Kadru who were very powerful and were the best among the snakes. He was born on earth so that he could fulfill his mother’s wish. Kadru’s heart filled with pride as soon as she saw Sheshnag. She felt that now she had become the most powerful mother in this world. She looked at his sons who were affecting the atmosphere with their poisonous hisses. But Sheshnag was not interested in all these things. When he bowed at his mother’s feet, he saw more victory than affection in Kadru’s eyes. On the other hand, Vinata’s two eggs were still intact.

There was no movement in them. Kadru started making fun of her step-daughter Vinata. Look Vinata, my sons have been born and they are ready to rule the entire world. But where are those two very bright sons of yours? Will they ever come out or not? Vinata was heartbroken by this insult. The wait of five hundred years tried to break her patience. Distraught by her co-wife’s taunts and the fear of her pregnancy failing, Vinata took a drastic step. She broke one of his eggs prematurely. As soon as the egg hatched, a wonderful child came out of it whose half body was not fully developed. It was Arun. Arun’s birth was a tragic event. Born with a half-formed body, Arun looked at his mother with pain and anger. The atmosphere at that moment became extremely heavy and sad. This was the turning point where the pace of the story slows down and emotions surge. Arun said in a sad voice, Mother, why did you lose patience? Kadru’s jealousy blinded you so much that you destroyed your own son’s future. Your ego and impatience are responsible for this half of my body. A stream of tears started flowing from Vinata’s eyes. She fell at her son’s feet. Son, please forgive me. I couldn’t bear the taunts of Kadru. Looking at his mother, Arun said, Mother, you will have to suffer the punishment for what you have done. You will become the slave of the same person that mocked you. But remember your second egg is still safe. Don’t touch him. Wait another five hundred years. Only that son will free you from this curse of slavery. Saying this, Arun flew towards the sky and later became the charioteer of Sun God. Meanwhile, Kadru’s thousand sons started growing up. Among these, Sheshnag was the most different. Where his brothers Vasuki, Takshak and other snakes, intoxicated with their power, used to trouble the gods and sages, Sheshnag used to spend most of his time in solitude in meditation and contemplation. He watched how his brothers killed small creatures with their poison and how their mother Kadru was always plotting to humiliate Vinata. One day when Kadru called a meeting of all her snake sons, she said, my sons, now the time has come for us to demonstrate our power. I need your help to shatter Vinata’s pride. Standing at a distance, Sheshnag had seen the shadow of that dark conspiracy in his mother’s eyes. He understood that his mother had strayed from the path of religion. There was a conflict going on within Sheshnag. On one side was his mother and on the other side was the dignity of religion. His brothers were shouting in excitement. He was boasting about his power. But the silent presence of Sheshnag was indicating a big storm coming. They knew that the path Kadru was following would have a terrible end. He resolved in his mind that no matter what happens, he will not become a part of this pot of unrighteousness. Dark clouds started gathering in the sky. It seems as if nature is also watching this internal conflict of Sheshnag. The thousand hoods of Sheshnag slowly started moving and his breaths created a divine vibration. This was not just a snake’s mass. This was the rise of that attractive power which was going to remain steadfast even during the time of destruction. The loud laughter echoing in Kadru’s assembly was piercing the ears of Sheshnag. He started feeling that there was no place for peace and truth in the family and the Naga clan in which he was born. From here the foundation of that great detachment of Sheshnag was laid which later gave him the good fortune of becoming the exclusive devotee of Lord Vishnu. What was that conspiracy of Kadru? How did Sheshnag muster the courage to stand against his own brothers? And what was that incident which disturbed Sheshnag so much that he decided to abandon even his mother? We will see all this in the next part of this story. The wheel of time was moving at its own pace. And on the other hand, in the underworld, the empire of Kadru’s thousand snake sons had been established. The directions trembled with the hissing of the snakes and the sharpness of their venom created a heaviness in the atmosphere. Sheshnag who was the eldest among all of them. With his huge physique and calm nature, he often sat in solitude and contemplated the strangeness of this world. His younger brothers Vasuki, Takshak and other snakes had become so blinded by the pampering of their mother Kadru that they could not see the difference between Dharma and Adharma.

For him only his mother’s orders were paramount, whether it is just or unjust. It is just a matter of one day. The golden rays of the sun fell on the sea water and made it shine like a diamond. Both sisters Kadru and Vinata were roaming on the sea shore. The atmosphere was very picturesque. The waves were calm and a cool gentle breeze was blowing. Then on the horizon they saw a very divine and white horse. He was no ordinary horse. He was the high Ucchaihshravas that emerged from the churning of the ocean. Whose complexion was as white as milk and whose speed was faster than the wind. Both the sisters were mesmerized after seeing him. Kadru who always had a feeling of competition in his eyes. He looked at Vinata with a wicked smile and said, look Vinata, what a beautiful horse you have. But did you notice? Its body is white but its tail is black. Vinata looked at the horse with surprise and replied very cleverly. No sister, you are getting confused. This horse is completely white. There is no blackness in its tail. It is as white as the moon itself. Kadru was waiting for this opportunity. The deceit within him was gone. He said bluntly, if you have so much faith then why don’t we make a bet? If the tail of this horse turns out to be black, you will become my slave. And if it is completely white then I will become your slave. Do you accept this condition? Vinata who was completely ignorant of the art of deceit. He accepted the condition, confident of his truthfulness. He believed that truth does not need to be proved. Both the sisters decided that they would come here again the next day and inspect the horse closely. As soon as Kadru returned to her palace, her heart started beating. She knew she lied. The Ucchaihshravas was completely white. If she loses, she will have to become a slave to her co-wife. The very thought was shaking his ego. He immediately called his thousand snake sons. All the snakes including Sheshnag, Vasuki and Takshak were present there. There was a madness in Kadru’s eyes. He shouted and said, my sons, today it is a question of your mother’s honour. I have made a bet with Vinata that the tail of the Ucchaihshravas is black. All of you have to go right now, take subtle form and stick to the hair of that horse’s tail so that the tail appears black. Go and ensure my victory. There was silence in the assembly. The sons of the snake started looking at each other. This was a blatant deception. Sheshnag, who was standing in the front, bowed his head. He moved forward and said in a very serious tone, Mother, what are you saying? That horse belongs to the gods. He is the symbol of truth. How can we use our power to prove a lie to be true? This is injustice, mother.

Victory won by deceit is worse than defeat. I request you to abandon this path. Kadru’s face turned red with anger. He never thought that his own eldest son would argue with him. He pointed his finger towards Sheshnag and said, you will teach me religion. I gave birth to you. I have nurtured you and made you so powerful. And today when my reputation is at stake, you are turning your back. Rest this is my order. No logic. Sheshnag did not budge. He calmly said that the duty of a son is to serve his mother. But supporting sin is not service but a path to destruction. I will not be a part of this misdeed. Kadru lost his patience. He looked at his other sons who were scared. At that moment Kadru committed a terrible act that shook the entire universe. He cursed his own sons. The description of this curse is found in the Adi Parva of Mahabharata. Yasman me vachan ned krit pachetasa tasmat janaja vo yajna pav pradakshati i.e. because you short-witted sons have violated my orders. Therefore, I curse you all that you will be burnt to ashes in the burning fire of the Sarpa Satra Yagna of King Janamejaya of the Pandava dynasty. As soon as these words came out of Kadru’s mouth, the walls of the underworld started shaking. The lives of the snake’s sons dried up. A curse from one’s own mother, and that too so terrible. There was an uproar among the snakes. Many snakes including Takshak and Vasuki started trembling with fear. He felt that if he did not obey his mother, he would be reduced to ashes. Fear swallowed his conscience. Except Sheshnag, most of the snakes fell at the feet of Kadru and said, Mother, please calm down, we will go, we will turn the tail of that horse black, please take back your curse, but the curse had already been given. Kadru ruthlessly said, go and do your work. Sheshnag was watching all this. There were tears in his eyes, but those tears were not of weakness but of pain. He saw how his brothers were taking refuge in sin out of fear. He saw how a mother was writing the destruction of her own lineage for the sake of her ego. Sheshnag decided at that very moment that he could no longer live in this poisonous environment where truth is being strangled, where your own mother becomes your enemy. That place was not suitable for them to live in. The next day the sun rose. Vinata and Kadru reached the beach again. There was a faint smile on Vinata’s face. She was confident. On the other side, the Ucchaihshravas horse was grazing. As soon as they came closer, Vinata’s eyes remained wide open. The horse’s tail which was as white as milk till yesterday. Today it looked as black as coal. Vinata could not believe her eyes. He thought perhaps his vision had become confused.

When he went closer and looked, the tail was actually black. She did not know that thousands of tiny snakes were coiled there. Kadru let out a laugh. The cruelty in his laughter was even drowning out the sound of the sea waves. Look Vinata, accept your defeat. From now on you are my slave. All your pride and brilliance is now dust at my feet. Come on, now start serving me. Vinata’s head bowed. Tears started falling from his eyes and getting absorbed in the sand. She was more saddened by the fact that now she would have to suffer lifelong slavery than by the defeat of truth. The scene at that moment was very touching. On one side was Kadru’s demonic joy and on the other side was Vinata’s silent pain. Vinata who never wished ill for anyone. She had become a victim of deception. Sheshnag was watching all this standing on a rock far away. Each of his thousand hoods seemed to be burning with pain. He saw that wicked smile of his mother and that insult of his stepmother Vinata. A feeling of detachment arose within him. He realized that this world is just a game of selfishness and deceit. What his brothers did filled Sheshnag with hatred towards his clan. They returned to their residence where there was a festive atmosphere. The sons of the snake were celebrating their mother’s victory. Looking at Sheshnag, Vasuki said, brother, you were unnecessarily afraid. See how happy the mother is. Now Vinata is our slave. Sheshnag looked towards Vasuki. There was such a brightness in his eyes that it could melt stones. He said in a calm but firm voice, Vasuki, what you are calling victory. That is the first step towards the destruction of our lineage. The curse that Mother has given us is not an ordinary word. All of you have got this momentary happiness by selling your soul, you will have to pay its price in the fire pit. I am ashamed that I am a part of this clan. Saying this, Sheshnag turned and walked away without looking back. Kadru called out to him saying the rest is going to stop. Sheshnag did not stop. His steps were firm. He knew that if he stayed here, he too would gradually become a part of this poison. They crossed the boundaries of the underworld and started moving upwards. There was only one thought in his mind. The search for truth and liberation from this sin. They headed towards Gandhamadan mountain. Where only nature resided and where there was no deceit. The departure of Sheshnag was a huge loss for the Naga world. But no one cared about it. Everyone was intoxicated with their luxury and power. Sheshnag entered the caves of the mountains. The peace there pleased his mind. He went to a high peak, sat in Padmasana and closed his thousand eyes. He chose the path of penance. His penance was not an ordinary penance. The energy emanating from his body shook the trees on the mountain. They stood firm in the scorching heat of summer, the torrential downpours of rain and the snowfall of winter. Many years passed. His huge body slowly began to weaken. But a supernatural glow appeared on his face. The speed of his breathing became so subtle that he started surviving by consuming only air. Meanwhile there was commotion in heaven. The gods started getting scared due to such severe penance of a snake. Indra was worried that Sheshnag might ask for the throne of heaven. He sent the nymphs, created obstacles. But Sheshnag’s concentration was not disturbed. He was in search of that truth which is beyond time. He was calling out to that Supreme Being who is the basis of this entire creation. One day a divine light emanated from the caves of Gandhamadana mountain. The entire sky was filled with golden aura. A sweet, resonant sound was heard, like thousands of veenas playing at once. The creator of the universe, Lord Brahma himself appeared there. There was a faint smile on Brahma Ji’s face and there was immense affection for Sheshnag in his eyes. Brahma ji said in a sweet voice, get up Shesh, open your eyes. Your penance has stunned all the three worlds. Sheshnag slowly opened his eyes.

The grandfather himself was standing in front. Sheshnag very humbly bowed his thousand hoods at his feet. His throat was choked. Brahma Ji lifted him up and said, Son, I am very pleased with your devotion and your strong faith in religion. You remained sinless even while living among your mother and brothers. This is your greatness. Ask. What boon do you want? Do you want the position of Indra? Or I may give you the wealth of all the worlds. There was satisfaction in Sheshnag’s eyes. What he said with folded hands moved even Brahma ji. Sheshnag said, O grandfather, I neither want heaven nor power. Give me only this boon that my mind always remains engaged in religion. No matter where I live. May my mind never stray from the path of truth. And Lord, keep me away from the iniquity of my brothers which has shaken me to the core. Brahma ji was stunned to see his selfless spirit. He thought that in a world where everyone is fighting for power, a snake is demanding only truth and righteousness. Brahma ji placed his hand on his head and said, son, you are blessed. This wish of yours will be fulfilled. Your mind will always remain stable. But now this universe has a special need for your remaining energy and power. Will you help me? Sheshnag asked in surprise, O Lord, how can I, a mere snake, help you? Brahma ji’s face became serious. He pointed towards the infinite earth spread below the mountain and said, son, look at this earth. It is constantly oscillating. The waves of the sea, the weight of the mountains and the noise of the creatures are destabilizing it. Sometimes it bends this way and sometimes that way. It needs stability. Will you dare to bear the weight of this entire earth on these powerful hoods of yours? Sheshnag was stunned. The weight of the entire earth. This was no ordinary task. This meant serving by remaining stationary at one place for ages. But for Sheshnag, this was just an extension of his penance. He looked towards Brahma Ji and said firmly, O Grandfather, if this is your order and it brings welfare to the universe, then I gladly accept this task. I will hold this earth with all my might. Brahma blessed him and instructed him to go even below the lowest part of the earth, Patala. Sheshnag spread his divine body and slowly started entering the earth. As they went down, they were experiencing the depths of the earth and its mysteries. Eventually they reached the point where the entire earth could be supported. He spread his thousand hoods and very carefully took the huge weight of the earth on his head. At that moment a miracle happened; the earth which had been shaking for millions of years suddenly became stable.

The mountains became quiet. The waves of the ocean recognized their limits and all living beings felt a sense of security. Brahma ji saw this scene from the sky and gave a new name to Sheshnag. Infinite. Sheshnag was no longer just a snake. He had become the pillar of this universe. In the depths of the underworld where even light did not reach, there Sheshnag was carrying this huge weight with his eyes closed, remembering God. For him it was not a burden but an absolute joy. But the game of destiny was not over yet. Sheshnag had held the earth. But his main objective still awaited. Lord Vishnu, the lord of the universe, was in yogic sleep in the Kshir Sagar. He was watching this unique service and purity of Sheshnag. He knew that his creation was incomplete without Sheshnag. How did Lord Vishnu and his supreme devotee meet? How Sheshnag became the disciple of Narayan and how he served the Lord for ages. All these exciting events are yet to come. The snowy peaks of Gandhamadan mountain stood silently to welcome Sheshnag. The commotion of the underworld, the arrogance of Mother Kadru and the deceit of the brothers were now left far behind. When Sheshnag breathed the sacred air of that mountain for the first time, he experienced what freedom and purification are. His huge thousand hoods which once remained confined in the narrow streets of the underworld. Now they were spread out under the open sky. But this was not a time for rest. This was the beginning of the ordeal that was to elevate a snake to the status of a god.

Sheshnag chose a secluded and quiet corner of the mountain. Neither did anyone come there nor did anyone go there. He stilled his body and sat in that difficult posture of penance which would disturb even the greatest yogis. He gave up food. He gave up his attachment to water and, relying solely on air, took his consciousness into the depths of the universe. The scorching rays of the sun burned their hoods. Torrential raindrops lashed their bodies and the winter snow tried to entangle them. But Sheshnag was adamant. There was only one goal behind his closed eyes. Atonement for the sins of one’s family and attainment of spiritual peace. It seemed as if the pace of time had stopped around Shesha. Hundreds of years passed. Then thousands of dust settled on their skin. Valmik termite mounds formed around his body. But the rhythm of his breathing did not break. Sometimes he would stumble upon the cool springs of Badrika Ashram, sometimes in the caves of Gokarna, sometimes he would concentrate on the banks of the sacred waters of Pushkar, and sometimes on the high peaks of the Himalayas where only the sky reigned. The fire of his tapasya gradually started increasing. This fire was not a destructive flame but it was the brilliance of enlightenment that began to threaten the throne of heaven. In heaven, Devraj Indra became anxious. Whenever any demon or snake performed such severe penance, the gods started feeling insecure about their position. Indra thought of a snake which is considered a symbol of poison and anger. Why is he doing such virtuous penance? He definitely has some secret plan. Does he want to take control of Indralok? Indra adopted his well-known method. He sent the heavenly nymphs to distract Sheshnag. Music started resonating on Gandhamadana mountain.

Fragrant winds began to blow and the nymphs began to dance. But Sheshnag’s attention had risen above that divine music. He was listening to the silence that an ordinary human being can never hear. When the Apsaras returned unsuccessful, Indra caused heavy rain and thunder. But the thousand hoods of Shesha accepted those thunderbolts like flowers. He did not budge. It became a topic of discussion in the universe that Kadru’s son Shesha had abandoned his mother and brothers. What does he want after all? Ultimately, the penance of Sheshnag reached that peak where the creator himself had to come. One day the peaks of Gandhamadan suddenly glowed with a golden aura. The animals and birds of the mountain, which were quiet till now, started chirping in a sweet voice. The sound of drums started coming from the sky and Mandara flowers started raining. The real grandfather Brahma who is the creator of the universe. He appeared there riding on a swan. Brahma ji saw that the body of Sheshnag had become very weak. Even his bones are visible. But the radiance on his face was like millions of suns. Brahma ji’s heart was filled with immense compassion for his great grandson. He called out lovingly, son Shesh, open your eyes. Your penance is complete. I am very pleased with your patience and your devotion to religion. Sheshnag slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Brahma ji in front of him, his tiredness vanished in a moment. He placed his thousand heads at his feet. His speech was choked. Brahma Ji lifted him up and said, Son, what is the reason for this severe self-torture? What do you want to achieve? Ask for whatever you wish. I will provide that to you. Sheshnag folded his hands very humbly and said, O grandfather, I neither want the wealth of heaven nor do I want victory over death.

I just want freedom from the deceit of this world and the toxic nature of my brothers. The curse given by Mother Kadru and the injustice done by my brothers have burnt my heart. Lord, please bless me that my intellect always remains immersed in truth and I never become a part of unrighteousness even unknowingly. Please engage me in some service away from this sinful world where there is only religion. Brahma ji was astonished to see this indifference of Sheshnag. He thought that while every snake was spewing poison, Shesh was speaking words like nectar. Brahma ji said in a serious tone, Shesh, your purity is your greatest strength. I fulfill your wish. Your mind will always remain steadfast in religion. But son, there is a huge crisis in the universe at this time. You see this earth is continuously shaking. The water of the oceans is breaking its limits. The mountains are leaving their place. The energy within the earth is not allowing it to remain stable. This imbalance can destroy the entire universe. I need a strong man who can selflessly hold this entire earth on his shoulders. Will you accept this great responsibility? The scene at that moment was extremely dramatic. On one side was the creator of the universe and on the other side was a serpent who had to bear the weight of the entire world. Sheshnag looked towards the earth once. The millions of animals, plants and humans living on it felt that this was the service they were looking for. He said with firm determination, O Lord, if my body can be of use to this earth, then what could be a greater fortune for me than this? I am ready. Brahma then gave Sheshna the famous order which is mentioned in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. Brahmao Vacha Imātva Dharani Sesh Sāmeya Sunischa Yathasā Na Chalā Sesh Maya Datta Pratigrahan. Its meaning is that Brahma Ji said, O Sesh, you hold this earth well and with a steady mind. Stabilize it so that it stops wobbling. I have entrusted this task to you. Accept it with full devotion. With this order of Lord Brahma, immense energy was transmitted within Sheshnag. He circumambulated Brahma and then created a huge hole to enter the earth. They slowly crossed the layers of the earth and reached the place below the lowest level, the underworld, where the foundation stone was. There was darkness all around. But the radiance of Sheshnag’s body was piercing that darkness. He spread his thousand hoods. The expanse of those hoods was so vast that they covered the entire earth from below. Then with utmost care and strength he lifted this huge earth on his head.

As soon as Sheshnag regained his balance a miracle happened. The earth, which had been shaking for millions of years, suddenly became still. The earthquakes stopped. The oceans calmed down and a sense of stability was felt throughout the universe. Brahma ji saw this from above and said happily, son, from today you will not be called only Shesh, you will be called Anant. You are the foundation without which the existence of the universe is not possible. Sheshnag’s life had now taken on a new meaning. He was alone in the depths of the underworld. There was a weight of billions of tons above. But there was immense peace in his mind. While sitting there he started meditating on God. It is described in the Puranas that when Sheshnag gets tired and changes his hood or takes a yawn, only then earthquakes occur on the earth. His service was so selfless that even death itself bowed before him. Brahma ji told him another secret. He said, your service will not be limited to just holding the earth. You will be closest to Lord Vishnu himself. This pure devotion of yours will show you the door to Vaikuntha. At that time Sheshnag did not realize that his penance was going to make him the bed and protector of the Supreme God. In the depths of the underworld where peace resided, Sheshnag started waiting for the arrival of his Lord. There in the Kshir Sagar, where waves of milk were colliding since eternity, Lord Vishnu was about to wake up from his yogic sleep. He had to welcome his exclusive devotee who had crushed his entire existence under the weight of the world. What was the imaginary meeting of Sheshnag and Lord Vishnu like? How about a serpent that carried the burden of the earth? He became a gentle shadow of God. And what is the role of Sheshnag when the time of destruction comes? The story continues.