Among the mighty serpents born of Kadru, there were many renowned names. Kambala and Ashvatara, Kalikeya, the two serpents Vrttasamvartaka, and the two known as Padma were counted among them. Shankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshema, and Pindaraka were also distinguished serpents. Then came Karavira, Pushpadamshtra, Bilvaka, Bilvapandura, Mushakada, Shankhashira, Purnabhadra, and Haridraka. Aparajita, Jyotika, Pannaga, Shrivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, and the mighty Shankhapinda followed. Viraja, Subahu, the powerful Shalipinda, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumukha, and Kaunapashana were also among the principal Nagas. Kuthara, Kunjara, Naga, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittiri, and Halika were named. Kardama, the great Naga, Bahumulaka, Karkara and Akarkara, Kundodara and Mahodara—all these were counted among the chief serpents. These, O best of twice-born, are the principal Nagas whose names are known; the rest, being many, are not mentioned by name. Their offspring, and the descendants of their offspring, are countless; knowing this, the sage refrained from recounting them all. Indeed, there are thousands, tens of thousands, and crores of serpents—too many to enumerate. After these formidable serpents had been named, one among them, Shesha, stood apart. When the curse pronounced upon the serpents was recognized, Shesha, illustrious and steadfast, resolved to abandon his mother Kadru and undertook severe austerities. Subsisting only on air, firm in his vows, he wandered to sacred places: Gandhamadana, Badari, Gokarna, the Pushkara forest, and the slopes of the Himalaya. In those holy sites, always solitary, disciplined, and self-controlled, Shesha performed fierce austerities. As Shesha continued his ascetic practices, the Grandsire, Brahma, beheld him—a sage emaciated in flesh, skin, and sinew, wearing matted hair and bark garments. Brahma approached Shesha and spoke: “What is this you are doing, Shesha? Bring welfare to beings. By your intense austerity, O sinless one, you are afflicting the world. Tell me, Shesha, what desire is established in your heart.” Shesha replied, “All my brothers, born of the same mother, are of dull minds; I cannot bear to dwell with them—let your honor permit this. They constantly envy one another like enemies; therefore I undertake austerity, so that I may not witness this. They never tolerate Vinata and her son; and our other brother, Vainateya, moves in the sky. They always hate him, yet he is the strongest of all, having received a boon from our father, the great-souled Kashyapa. Therefore, I shall undertake austerities and cast off this body; how can I ensure that, even after death, I will not have to associate with them?” Hearing Shesha’s words, Brahma replied, “I know, Shesha, all that your brothers have done. Because of your mother’s offense, your brothers are in great danger; but, O serpent, a remedy has already been arranged here beforehand. You should not grieve for any of your brothers; and now, Shesha, ask a boon of me—whatever you desire. I shall grant you a boon today, for my affection for you is supreme; by fortune, your mind is established in righteousness, O best of serpents. May your mind remain ever steadfast in righteousness.” Shesha said, “This is the very boon I desire, O Lord, O Grandsire: may my mind delight in righteousness, in tranquility, and in austerity.” Brahma was pleased and said, “I am pleased by your self-restraint and tranquility, Shesha. Now, by my command, you must perform an act for the welfare of the world. This earth, adorned with mountains and forests, with seas, villages, pleasure-grounds, and cities—O Shesha, support it well, holding it firmly so that it may remain unmoving.” Shesha replied, “Just as the boon-giving Lord, the Prajapati, the king of the earth, the lord of beings, the lord of the world, has said, so shall I uphold the earth immovably, if the Prajapati grants me a dwelling place.” Brahma instructed, “Descend beneath the earth, O best of serpents; she herself will give you a place. By supporting this earth, Shesha, you will do me a great favor.” Thus, Shesha made an opening and entered beneath the earth. As lord of the earth and eldest of the noble serpents, he remained there, supporting the goddess earth upon his head, encircling her completely with his endless coils. Brahma declared, “You are Shesha, best of serpents, god of righteousness, for you alone uphold this earth, encircling her entirely with your endless coils, just as I do, or even with greater strength.” Thus, the mighty Ananta, Shesha, dwells beneath the earth, supporting the world alone, by the command of the glorious Brahma. Then, the blessed Grandsire gave Ananta the divine Suparna, the best of immortals, Garuda, as his companion. When Ananta had departed, Vasuki, of great strength, was anointed king by the serpents, just as the gods anointed Indra. Hearing the curse pronounced by his mother, Vasuki, the best of serpents, began to ponder how that curse might not take effect. He consulted with all his brothers, including Airavata and the rest, who were all devoted to righteousness. Vasuki said, “This curse has been pronounced as described, and you know it, O blameless ones. We strive, consulting together, for the release from this curse. There is indeed a counteraction for all curses; but for those cursed by their mother, release is nowhere to be found.