There lived in Pataliputra a brahmin named Shanku-Karna. His only ambition in life was to become a multi-millionaire. The life of a true brahmin was not conducive to realise his goal. So he gave up the life of a brahmin and took to trading and business. He employed all means, fair and foul, to amass wealth. He used to convert his earnings into gold coins and put them away secretly in a large copper vessel buried under a tree in his compound. He used to throw big parties to wealthy people, and accept costly gifts from them and later encash the gifts.
One night, a cobra bit him and he died. His stock of sins was so much that no medicines or mantras could come to his rescue and save him from death. His three sons, as was the custom, covered the body with a certain kind of leaves and performed "Narayana Bali" for the eternal peace of the soul departed under tragic circumstances.
After some years, all the brothers assembled together in the same house where their father had lived. The youngest son was the only one who had been staying there in that house. The other two were living separately.
"Last night I saw a dream", said the second son. "That is why I have come here."
"I have also come to tell the same thing," said the eldest one.
"I too saw the dream", said the youngest son.
"Our father had buried a large treasure under the tree in the north side of the compound before he died of snake-bite. But unfortunately he has been born as a snake and is keeping guard over the treasure. This was my dream," said the second son.
"I too saw the same dream", said the eldest.
"What a pity! How depressing to think that our father is born as a snake I", the youngest one lamented.
"Let us find out we can redeem father from his present state", suggested the eldest one.
"That is my desire also", said the youngest.
The thoughts of the second so however, wandered in other directions. He thought: "Even though it be the father, he was now existing as a snake. There is nothing wrong in killing a snake. Father will be liberated from his state of existence and I can take the treasure. But I should do this without the knowledge of the other two brothers."
He got up and went away without talking anything to anyone.
At the dead of night, the second son stole away quietly to the tree and started digging under the tree. He had kept a big stick nearby to beat the snake to death. Ere long he hit the jackpot. When he started digging around the pot to retrieve it, a huge snake appeared there. It coiled up on the stick, spread out its hood and hissed menacingly.
"Wicked fellow ! Who are you?" asked the snake. "Get ready to die."
The son got so afraid that he ran away from that place immediately. The snake crawled into a hole nearby.
Next morning, while passing through the northern side of the compound, the youngest son was astonished to see a pickaxe and stick lying under the tree and a copper vessel partly revealed by excavation. He did not have the courage to touch the vessel. He stood there and remembered his father.
Suddenly, a huge snake emerged from a hole under the tree. The son stepped back in fear and wonderment.
"Son, don't be afraid. I am your father. Save me from this condition of mine," the snake said.
"Father, I came to know the truth about you through my dream. But I am at a loss to know how to help you out", the son said.
"Last night your elder brother came here to steal this treasure by killing me. Though he could not succeed in his mission, the sin of attempted murder of father has already been heaped on him. But his digging has been of use to you. You may easily pull out the copper vessel and take it home and enjoy the treasure."
"No father I will not take the whole of it. After all it belongs to all three of us. I will bring all of them along."
The youngest son went to fetch the two elder brothers. Soon, all of them reached the spot under the tree. The second son hung his head in shame,
"Father!" called out the youngest son. The snake crawled out of the hole.
"O my father!" cried the eldest one, and wept bitterly.
"Don't weep", said the snake. "I am suffering the fruits of my own actions. I amassed and stored away this wealth, which in fact should have been rightly employed by me for the welfare of the people. And now I have to stand guard over this wealth in the form of a cobra. Please relieve me from the wretched condition. Please take away the wealth from here."
"Father! in what manner can we relieve you from this condition? By doing what meritorious deed can we redeem you?"
"Children, go and find out a brahmin who recites the seventh chapter of the Bhagawad Geeta regularly. On my next death anniversary day, when you perform rites for me, make him recite the seventh chapter of the Geeta. The next day, when you come to this very spot, you would see that I have given up the body of the snake. However, take the dead body of the snake and cremate it ceremoniously. I will then attain eternal peace. Now, please take away the vessel of treasure."
So saying, the snake disappeared into the hole.
The sons came away with the treasure.
On the next death anniversary of the father, they performed all the rites and had the seventh chapter of the Geeta recited by a brahmin who had practised the same regularly. Next day, they cremated the dead body of the snake and redeemed their father from his pitiable existence.
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