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In the ancient times, Adishesha, the serpent son of Rshi Kashyapa and his wife Kadru began practising penance on the Gandhamadana mountain, Badarikashrama, Gokarna, Pushkara and the foothills of Himalaya. Lord Brahma noticed that his flesh, skin and nerves were drying up due to severe penance. He had taken to matted hair and bark garments like a sage. Seeing this, Lord Brahma asked Shesha the reason for undertaking this austerity and instructed him to do something beneficial for the people instead of tormenting them through his severe austerities. Shesha then revealed to Lord Brahma that his serpent brothers were dull-witted, they envied Vinata and her sons who were their brothers. And therefore he undertook austerities to give up his body so as to distance himself from his brothers.  

In the ancient times, Adishesha, the serpent son of Rshi Kashyapa and his wife Kadru began practising penance on the Gandhamadana mountain, Badarikashrama, Gokarna, Pushkara and the foothills of Himalaya. Lord Brahma noticed that his flesh, skin and nerves were drying up due to severe penance. He had taken to matted hair and bark garments like a sage. Seeing this, Lord Brahma asked Shesha the reason for undertaking this austerity and instructed him to do something beneficial for the people instead of tormenting them through his severe austerities. Shesha then revealed to Lord Brahma that his serpent brothers were dull-witted, they envied Vinata and her sons who were their brothers. And therefore he undertook austerities to give up his body so as to distance himself from his brothers.  

Lord Brahma explained to Shesha that his brothers faced danger since they offended their mother, the repercussions of which were already taken care of and that he was happy to see Shesha devoted to dharma. Infact, being pleased with Adishesha’s self-control and equanimity, Brahma asked him hold the earth that shook due to mountains, forests, oceans, villages and cities, in such a way that it became steady, for the benefit of all living beings. Shesha agreed to do the same and asked Brahma to place the earth on his head to which he was asked to go below the earth. Accordingly, Shesha entered the earth, for which the earth herself provided a path, and living in Patala, he placed her, surrounded by the oceans, on his head thereby making her steady. And Lord Brahma who compared this service of Shesha for the betterment of the world to the work of Brahma and Indra, appointed Garuda, the son of Vinata to help him in this task.

Lord Brahma explained to Shesha that his brothers faced danger since they offended their mother, the repercussions of which were already taken care of and that he was happy to see Shesha devoted to dharma. Infact, being pleased with Adishesha’s self-control and equanimity, Brahma asked him to hold the earth that shook due to mountains, forests, oceans, villages and cities, in such a way that it became steady, for the benefit of all living beings. Shesha agreed to do the same and asked Brahma to place the earth on his head to which he was asked to go below the earth. Accordingly, Shesha entered the earth, for which the earth herself provided a path, and living in Patala, he placed her, surrounded by the oceans, on his head thereby making her steady. And Lord Brahma who compared this seva (सेवा | selfless service) of Shesha for the betterment of the world to the work of Brahma and Indra, appointed Garuda, the son of Vinata to help him in this task.

This story is described in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata (Adhyaya 36).<ref>Ramanarayanadatta Shastri Pandeya, Mahabharata ([https://archive.org/details/MAHABHARATA_201902/page/n143 Vol.1]), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

This story is described in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata (Adhyaya 36).<ref>Ramanarayanadatta Shastri Pandeya, Mahabharata ([https://archive.org/details/MAHABHARATA_201902/page/n143 Vol.1]), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

[[Category:Devatas]]

[[Category:Devatas]]

[[Category:Puranas]]

[[Category:Puranas]]