Green Message - Evergreen Messages of Spirituality, Sanskrit and Nature
Sage Somashrava
(Mahabharata - Adi Parva - Paushya Parva - 3)
• Celestial dog Sarama cursing king Janmajeya: King Janmajeya, the son of king Parikshit was attending a long Satra (Yagna or Sacrifice) at Kurukshetra with his brothers Shrutasena, Ugrasena and Bhimasena. The son of Sarama (a celestial dog) came there. He was beaten by the brothers of king Janmajeya. The dog went to his mother Sarama weeping. When the mother asked the reason, the god said that he did not commit any wrong act - he did not lick the sacrificial ghee, not even cast a glance at it. Sarama went to the sacrifice and angrily asked the reason for beating her son. Janmejaya and brothers did not bother to reply her. Then Sarama pronounced a curse that evil will come to Janmejaya when he least expected it.
• King Janmajeya approaching sages Shrutashrava and Somashrava: King Janmajeya became worried. To neutralize the curse, he approached sage Shrutashrava and his son sage Somashrava. He wanted sage Somashrava to become his priest. Shrutashrava said that his son was learned and full of asceticism. But he was born from the womb of a serpent who had swallowed his vital fluid. He has the ability to absolve the sins of the king except those committed against Mahadeva. However he follows a rule that whatever a brahmana asks from him, he grants them. If the king allows him to do that, he can have his son as a priest. King Janmajeya agreed.
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