Swarga loka

"Stay away if you want your own good!"

Sachi's enraged voice reverberated from the illuminated golden walls of Indraloka. Her doe eyes had turned crimson, entire golden frame shivering with uncontrollable wrath.

"You cannot be so cruel on me, Devi!" Nahusha stepped closer towards her, making her step back. His breaths, hot with fire of desire, were falling in her body, making her cring in contempt.

"What do I lack? Wealth, status, fortune, victory, - everything! Your husband, that ill-fated Indra, is now deprived of every prosperity and banished from his own abode. What can he give you now?" Nahusha caught Sachi's delicate arm, his lips curving into a lustful smile. "Listen to me, beautiful Goddess! Leave that Sri-less Sakra and become mine! I shall give you all kinds of pleasure that you deserve!"

"Stop it, you wretch!" Sachi screamed, pushing Nahusha's hand away. "This Swarga loka is too pure for such words to be uttered! And whatever condition my husband is in, know that he still possesses enough power to vanquish you just like he has slain demon Vritra!" Pride and confidence dripped from her voice.

"Vanquish me?" Nahusha laughed sarcastically. "Keep dreaming, daughter of Puloma! I, the son of Aayu, has earned this throne of heaven with my own virtues! The Gods and Sapta Rishis themselves chose me to rule heaven in Indra's absence! Your husband is now weak, powerless, hiding under water. He is not even a match for me to duel with, let alone win!"

"Fool you are, son of Aayu!" Sachi snapped. "You were chosen for this sacred throne because you once followed Dharma. But remember, it does not take long for one's punya to get finished! You still have time. Be careful before it's too late!"

"You look even lovelier in this anger, Sachi!" Nahusha smirked. "Why waste this unearthly beauty and youth for a coward like Purandara? Come to my arms! I would never leave you like he did!"

"Nahusha!" Sachi cried. "May that vicious tongue of yours get spilt for uttering this! Listen, you fool! If I have been forever devoted to my Devendra alone with all my existence, may you never get rid of this sin unless his mercy!"

Nahusha laughed out again, making the serenity of Swarga shiver in contempt.

"Devi! Devendrani! What happened?" Deva Guru Brihaspati hurried in, his serene brow having curves of worry as he had heard Sachi scream in anger.

"Gurudeva!" Sachi bowed to Brihaspati.

Blessing her, Brihaspati looked at Nahusha who was visibly reluctant with his sudden arrival. He realized what had happened. He knew it had been a repeatitive thing now.

"Son of Aayu!" Brihaspati gravely said. "Forget not, you have been made a caretaking ruler of Deva loka until Devendra comes back from his penance. Do not dare to misuse the power we all have trusted you with!"

"Are you scaring me, Guru of Gods?" Nahusha jeered.

"No." Brihaspati was still calm. "I'm just warning you. Karma leaves no one, King! If Indra, the Lord of Gods, can suffer the sin of brahmahatya today for killing Vritrasura, who are you to escape the karmaphala? Hence, be in your limits!"

"Deva Guru!" Nahusha gritted his jaw. "Forget not, you all have to accept my every wish, because without me, there will be no rule in heaven!" His lips held a cruel smile.

"Get lost from here, King Nahusha!" Brihaspati's usually calm eyes had turned crimson. "If you don't want me to burn you with my curse right now!"

"You wretched Brahmins! What else can you do except hurling curses at everyone? Remember, Brihaspati, every time you won't be there to protect Sachi!" Nahusha left Sachi's chamber, fuming in unsatisfied desire. Brihaspati heaved a sigh looking at the way he went on.

"Fool he is!" He shook his head. "He does not know that the Queen of heaven does not need anybody's protection! She can destroy him with her power in a blink of eye!"

"I can, but I choose not to, Gurudeva!" Sachi sighed too. "All the Devas, Rishis and Pitris have chosen him to rule Swarga. Destroying him thus will be disrespectful to them! Also, I want him to realize whom he has dared to insult! And that will happen only if Swami punishes him instead of me."

"Do not wait for that! Indra will not return soon, Devi." Brihaspati's eyes betrayed pain. "I have sent Agni Deva to search for him. He found Sakra living within a lotus under water. His penance will take much long."

"Then what is the way, Gurudeva?"

Brihaspati smiled. "You are asking me, Aindree? You are the one who resides in Indra's Vajra as his Shakti, you are the destroyer of Aasuri Maya! What can hold you back from releasing your Swarga from this lusty man?"

"I was waiting for your permission only, Gurudeva." Sachi joined her palms. "If you wish so, I shall remove Nahusha from his power very soon! My Swarga shouldn't get maligned by his evil desire anymore!"

***

"I accept your wish, King Nahusha! But I have a condition."

Nahusha could not believe his own ears. Did he hear it right? Swargeshwari Paulomi, the epitome of beauty and fortune, had finally agreed to marry him?

"I agree to any condition you ask for, Devi!" He readily replied. "Tell me what I should do!"

"King, my husband is the Lord of this heaven. All Gods, Rishis, Pitris and Gandharvas bow to him and serve his commands! If you too can make them serve you, I shall be yours! Forever!"

Nahusha laughed. "Only this much? You really are too naive, beautiful one!"

"Yes. Only this much." Sachi calmly said. "I want you to come to our vivaha mandap in a palanquin drawn by the great Brahmarshis and Sapta Rishis themselves!" She stared through his eyes. "Can you?"

"Undoubtedly!" Nahusha cried in excitement. "I am the ruler of heaven and they are bound to obey me now! Your wish will be fulfilled, Sachi! Wait for the muhurta when I shall come to marry you!"

Sachi's full red lips curved into a smile. The first step of her mission was successful!

"Do not delay, please! I shall be waiting for you!" She expressed fake eagerness.

***

The wedding day

Nahusha overjoyed imagining his upcoming union with the Queen of Gods. Since that day, he could not sleep well in excitement. Every time he dreamt of Sachi's lovely face and her loving surrender to him.

Finally, that day had come! Nahusha knew that the seven sages would not be able to deny his wish, however insulted they might have felt. After all, who would rule them if they refused to obey him? He laughed to himself. The seven sages, the revered Sapta Rishis, were his mere servants now!

I am coming, Sachi! He closed his eyes in ecstasy, imagining Sachi decked as a bride, holding varmaala for him.

Was not the palanquin moving too slow? Nahusha felt restless. What if the auspicious muhurta of wedding passed by? What these old fellows were up to? To make him miss the muhurta?

"Move fast, Rishivar!" He impatiently ordered.

The sages fumed, exchanging with each other. This much courage of a mere mortal King that he was ordering them as servants? This much pride just because of a temporary chance of ruling heaven?

"Didn't you hear?" Nahusha said again. "I need to reach fast!"

The sages spoke nothing. They continued to walk in their own calm, composed pace.

"How dare you disobey my order?" Nahusha screamed. The next moment, he removed the curtain of palanquin and kicked on sage Agastya's head.

"Can't you walk faster, you old fools?" His right foot pushed Agastya's chest. "Why on earth have I taken you to bear my palanquin?"

"Nahusha!" Agastya's eyes were red. The reaction of the other sages was no different.

This was unforgivable!

"We have been tolerating too much, not for your sake but respecting Devaraj's sacred position which you currently hold!" Said Agastya. "But not anymore! You have lost the ability to live in the pious Swarga loka, let alone rule!"

Nahusha got perplexed, seeing all the Rishis glaring at him together. Even the serene wind of Swarga seemed to be waiting to hear next, holding its breath.

"Fall back to Manushya loka! You don't even deserve to rule your own kingdom as a human! It's better that King Pururava's glorious clan stays free from your sins!" Agastya took water from his kamandalu and sprinkled it on Nahusha.

"Get laid in the dense Dwaita forest as a huge snake! That's what you deserve!"

Snake!

Nahusha shivered in shock.

"Forgive me, Rishivar! I beg your mercy!"

"I cannot take my curse back, Nahusha! Stay there till Dwapara and repent for what you did. When Devaraj Indra himself will be born in your clan, he will liberate you from my curse!"

***

Swarga loka

"Forgive me, Devi!"

Sachi looked down at a shivering Nahusha, now in a form of serpent because of Agastya's curse, at her feet. She saw Nahusha's tongue had got split, making her utterance true!

"I apologise from my heart, Devi!" Nahusha cried in a hissy tone. "Won't you forgive?" 

Sachi saw his serpent body coiling in shame. She took a deep breath before kindness made her lips curve.

Humans would never know! How long they can hold grudges who are responsible to care for all? Where will the mortals go if a Goddess chooses not to forgive?

"I forgive you, King. But I cannot remove Rishi Agastya's curse from you." She softly uttered. "You have to live this life until my Lord takes his birth in your clan."

"I know that, Swargeshwari! I haven't come to you asking for a removal of my curse. But only one request to you." Nahusha pleaded.

Sachi nodded approvingly.

"If you have truly pardoned my sin, grace my clan, Devendrani! May I get my sins washed off, with your auspicious arrival in my family!"

A knowing smile played on the Goddess's red lips. "Which family, son of Aayu? Human one, or the Naga one?"

"Isn't your human form pre-decided, Devi? Since Devendra is going to be born as my descendant, I am sure that you are also going to be the bride of my family."

Sachi's smile widened.

"You guessed it right. Worry not, Nahusha. I promise you, I will be born in Naga clan too in my other form, to bless you and your Nagas. My birth as a serpent will open the door of your liberation. Go and wait for me!"

***

The kingdom of Nagas, Chaitra Shukla Ashtami

"It's a girl!"

The cheerful voice of midwife greeted Naga King Kauravya's eager ears.

"Maharaj, she is too beautiful, just like a little flower made of pure gold!" The midwife added. "We have never seen such a baby!"

"She looks like some blessing, Maharaj!" Agreed the priest.

Kauravya took the newborn in his arms. Her golden face shone brighter than full-grown moon. It felt much more than physical beauty, there was so much auspiciousness, so much compassion even in those small eyes, - the proud father could not help wondering which Goddess had come to his home.

As if she has come to grace him! Maybe not just him but all the snakes!

"You are right, Aacharya!" Kauravya mused. "My daughter will bring glory to my kingdom! Let her be known as Ulupi, the one with charming face and auspicious character!"

"Hail Rajkumari Ulupi!" The snakes cried.

Far away, in the lonliness of Dwaita forest, a fallen Nahusha lifted his hood. The hailing of Princess Ulupi reached his mind-ear, making tears roll down his eyes.

"You have come to make my way of rescue! Your grace is unlimited, Devendrani!"

Pulomajaam Deveshwarim Aindree Sakra vallabhaam
Namami pannaga sutaam Partha premamohitaam

[I bow to Devi Aindree, the daughter of Puloma, the Queen of Gods who is beloved of Sakra. I bow to the daughter of Naga, the one who was overwhelmed with Partha's love.]
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Author's note:

1) Nahusha was son of Aayu, grandson of King Pururava and Apsara Urvashi. He was father of Yayati who led to Yadavas and Pandava-Kauravas. Hence, Nahusha was ancestor of Pandavas. He was given the responsibility to rule heaven in Indra's absence, when Indra was away from Swarga to do penance for his sin of brahmahatya.

2) This story of Nahusha is found twice in Mahabharata. Once in Vana Parva and again in Udyoga Parva. After touching Bhima and seeing Yudhishthira (Indra born in his clan), he got rid of the curse and went to heaven.

Disclaimer: The theory of Ulupi being incarnation of Sachi was first conceived by PandavaPriyaa

However, the idea of connecting Ulupi with Nahusha's curse story is completely mine and is NOT free for anyone else to use.