In the works of Vyasa, the story of Uttanka in the start of the Paushya Parva. The work of Vyasa is much more detailed than what Kashidas shared. As stated in the start of the post on Aruni, King Paushya is missing from the work of Kashidas.
The Guru of Upamanyu and Aruni also had a disciple called Veda. Veda, when he was older, also became a teacher, like his guru before him. He had students come and stay with him and learn. One such student was a person called Uttanka, who lived in his guru’s household. This tale is about Uttanka.
Uttanka, Janamejaya and Paushya shared the same guru, Veda.
One day, Veda was invited to a yagna far away. None of the male students were available. Only Uttanka was there. So, before departing, he said to Uttanka, “Stay here and guard the home. Make sure no duty is neglected while I am away.” And with these instructions, Veda left.
It just so happened that the day after Veda left, his wife completed her ritual bath, following her monthly cycle. This was her fertile period. She called Uttanka to her side and said to him, “Your teacher has instructed you to protect the house. He has asked you not to neglect any duty of the house. Now, he is away, and my time of fertility is passing. You must ensure that this opportunity for a child is not lost. Protect my season. Make love to me.”
Uttanka was horrified and felt deeply distressed. How could a guru’s wife say this to him? He thought to himself, “I am here to protect the house, but protecting the season of the guru’s wife is not part of my duty. Touching the wife of another person is a great sin, and here the question is of touching my guru’s wife, who is like my mother.” Uttanka thus refused the woman and told her so. Veda’s wife was furious. Some days after this, Veda returned. He heard how Uttanka had behaved in his absence and was very pleased. This angered his wife even more.
She spoke privately to her husband and requested that when Uttanka came to offer his final payment for his education, the Guru Dakshina, he should be sent to her first. She would tell him what was to be given.
The day came. Veda summoned Uttanka, blessed him and said, “Go home my son. May you be the master of all scriptures.” Uttanka replied, “Master, what fee shall I give you?” Veda replied that he desired nothing for himself, but told Uttanka to go to his wife and provide whatever she requested.
Uttanka went to her and asked her what she wanted. Veda’s wife had been waiting for this moment. She said to Uttanka, “The wife of king Paushya has wonderful earrings. I wish to wear those. Go to king Paushya and get those for me. You have to bring them to me within seven days. That time is very auspicious. If you bring them within those seven days, I shall be satisfied and will bless you. If you fail to return by then, I shall curse you.”
Uttanka agreed to undertake the task and get the earrings for her. He took Veda’s permission and began his journey towards the king Paushya’s palace.
He was hurrying along when he saw a massive bull standing on the way. Next to it was fresh dung. The bull said to Uttanka, “Eat the dung. This will benefit you.” Uttanka felt insulted. “I will not eat this.” To that, the bull said, “This is for your benefit. Your teacher Veda had eaten this before you.”
Hearing that, Uttanka ate the dung and resumed his journey.
Continuing his journey, he reached the palace of king Paushya and there, met the king. He told the king about the wish of Veda’s wife. The king said Uttanka would have to ask the queen for that, and had the brahmin escorted to the queen’s private quarters. Uttanka spoke to the queen and told her about Veda’s wife’s wish. “My guru’s wife wishes to possess your earrings. She has asked me to fetch them.” The queen took the earrings and handed them over to Uttanka and asked him to give them to his guru’s wife.
When Uttanka was about to leave, the queen warned him and said, “The Naga Takshaka wants these earrings. Carry these carefully.”
Uttanka thanked the queen and the king, took the jewels and left the palace.
Takshaka got to know that Uttanka was carrying the earrings. He went to where Uttanka was. Uttanka was a pure brahmin and Takshaka did not have the power to touch him. So, he began following Uttanka taking the guise of a monk.
On his way back to his guru’s ashrama, Uttanka saw a lake. He wanted to perform his ablutions. He took off his clothes and kept them on the bank of the lake. He then placed the earrings on top of the clothes. He was about to step into the water when he saw the monk. Uttanka had realized that the monk had been following him, but he had ignored that. Now the monk was looking at him. Suddenly, the monk came and grabbed the earrings. Then assuming the form of a snake, the monk dove into the earth and vanished.
Uttanka looked around. He saw the spot where the monk had vanished. There was a small narrow hole in the ground. In despair, he began to dig at the earth with his fingers.
Indra saw this. He knew what was destined. He decided to help Uttanka. He sent his lightning bolt to strike the ground. As soon as this happened, a wide passage opened up in the ground.
Uttanka jumped into the passage. He was in the land of the Nagas.
This was an entirely different and wonderful world. He began roaming around looking for the monk. Where was he?
Agni decided to help Uttanka, and taking the form of a horse, the god of fire approached the brahmin. He then said, “Uttanka, trust me as you trust your guru. To find what you seek, blow into my anus.”
As the horse had taken the name of the guru, Uttanka did as he was told. As he blew, thick smoke erupted from the horse’s mouth. The land became dark. The smoke began to disturb the nagas. The nagas went to Vasuki, their king and told him what was happening. Vasuki wanted to know the reason behind this, and nagas told him that Takshaka was responsible for this. Vasuki was furious. He called Takshaka and ordered him to return the jewellery to Uttanka and please the brahmin.
Vasuki took the earrings and personally gave them to Uttanka.
Uttanka went where the horse was. The horse asked him to climb up on his back. With the speed of light, the horse went and carried Uttanka in front of Veda’s ashrama, and left. He arrived exactly as the seventh day was about to end. Veda’s wife had just finished her bath. She was ready. If Uttanka did not give her the earrings, she would curse him.
Uttanka handed over the earrings to her. Seeing the earrings, Veda’s wife was very happy.
Uttanka then told Veda about his journey and all that had happened. Veda then told him, “The bull you saw was none other than Indra, who is my friend. The dung that was offered was Amrita, the nectar of immortality. It was because you ate that, no one could touch you in the world of the Nagas. The monk who had taken the earrings was Takshaka, and the horse who helped in the land of the Nagas was Agni, the God of Fire, who is also my friend. Your task in my place is over. May you be blessed with the knowledge of scriptures. I give you permission to go home.”
Uttanka left the ashrama of his guru but he was mentally disturbed. He could not forget the unnecessary trouble Takshaka had caused him. He had not harmed Takshaka, but had been troubled by the Naga. The Naga needed to be taught a lesson. He travelled to the court of King Janamejaya and asked for an audience with the king. When the King asked why he had come, Uttanka replied, “O King, you are whiling your time in idle pursuits. You need to find a way to punish wrong-doers. A son’s duty is to avenge his father. The wicked Takshaka killed your father. He also made sure Kashyapa could not come and help your father. You must find a way. Perhaps you should perform a sacrifice, to destroy him. I went to perform my guru’s task, and the evil Takshaka troubled me.”
Stunned, Janamejaya turned to his ministers. “Is this true? I was told my father died of a curse. Why is Takshaka coming into the picture?” He asked for details and the ministers then began to tell him about his father’s death.
Analysis
Like the story of Upamanyu and Aruni, the tale of Uttanka is part of Paushya Parva. The Paushya Parva is a short parva which marks the beginning. It has most of the content covered by Kashidas here, but some parts have been skipped.
- The parva is named after the king, whose earrings Uttanka wants.
- The parva starts with the dog Sarama cursing Janamejaya’s brothers.
- How Veda becomes the guru of Janamejaya and Paushya.
- There is a discussion between Uttanka and the king which is skipped by Kashidas, which also results in Uttanka and the king cursing each other.
Some minor differences:
- The bull is supposed to be Airavata and not Indra. There is a man with the bull in Vyasa’s text, who is Indra.
- Uttanka sees many wonderful things in the land of the Nagas which are not mentioned by Kashidas.
The episode with the bull and the dung is a test of humility and trust. By asking a learned Brahmin to eat dung, Indra (disguised as the bull) tests whether Uttanka’s pride outweighs his trust in his teacher’s path. Because Uttanka chooses trust over his own sense of “purity,” he receives protection.
Constant vigilance is required when guarding something important. Distractions, even those related to other duties (like ablutions), can provide an opening for those who wish to obstruct your progress.
Actions have consequences. Takshaka’s petty theft of the earrings eventually led Uttanka to incite King Janamejaya, resulting in the great snake sacrifice.
- Uttanka correctly identifies that "protecting the house" does not include violating moral codes, even when requested by a superior.
- A single act of greed (Takshaka’s theft) can trigger a historical event (snake sacrifice), proving that no action is isolated.
Significance of Characters and Representation
| Character | Symbolic Representation | Daily Life Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Uttanka | The Steadfast Disciple | A dedicated professional who values integrity over convenience. |
| Veda’s Wife | The Catalyst of Desire/Trial | Challenges that test our moral boundaries or ego. |
| Takshaka | Opportunism & Deception | Competitors or distractions that strike when we are off-guard. |
| The Bull/Indra | The Hidden Test | Unconventional trials that require us to swallow our pride. |
| The Horse/Agni | Divine Intervention/Knowledge | Mentors or "gut feelings" that guide us through dark times. |
Meanings of Names in Context:
- Uttanka: Derived from roots suggesting "high-reaching" or "one who has been sculpted." It fits a student being "carved" into a master through rigorous trials.
- Veda: Meaning "Knowledge." As a teacher, he embodies the source from which Uttanka draws his strength.
- Takshaka: Rooted in "to chop" or "to fashion." He fashions obstacles and cuts through Uttanka’s peace, serving as the antagonist.
- Paushya: Related to "Pushya" (nourishment/blossoming). The King provides the "nourishment" (earrings) required to complete the task.
Significance of the Creatures
The Bull (Airavata)
- Nature: Strong, grounded, and associated with the Earth and fertility.
- Justification: The bull represents the ultimate test of caste pride and physical disgust. By asking a Brahmin to eat dung, it strips away superficial identity to see if the student is truly "empty" of ego.
The Snake (Naga/Takshaka)
- Nature: Secretive, swift, and living in the "subconscious" (underworld).
- Justification: Snakes represent hidden threats. Takshaka waits for a moment of vulnerability (the ritual bath) to steal the prize, signifying how easily we lose our "merit" when we become complacent.
Lessons for the Modern Individual
- Vigilance is a Virtue: Uttanka lost the earrings because he prioritised a personal ritual (ablutions) over his primary duty. In professional life, don't let routine tasks distract you from high-stakes responsibilities.
- Humility is Power: Swallowing one's pride (the dung) often leads to "Amrita" (success/immortality). Those too proud to do "lowly" tasks often miss out on the greatest protection.
- Accountability: If you are wronged, seeking justice is valid, but beware of how your desire for "lessons" might trigger larger conflicts.
Scriptural Correlations and Parallels
Indian Scripture Parallels:
- Ramayana: Similar to Lakshmana’s protection of Sita; both involve a "circle of protection" (the Guru's house/the Lakshmana Rekha) and the consequences of leaving it or facing a disguised deceiver.
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