- The Fall of Indra
- Rise of Nahusha
- Ascent to Indra
- Shachi’s Plan
- Arrogance and Demand
- The Curse by Agastya
The Nahusha curse story begins as a gripping tale. It’s a story of a mortal, Nahusha—a king who rose to become the Lord of the Gods and fell just as swiftly into darkness. The Nahusha story is not just about ambition and power; it’s a cautionary legend soaked in cosmic consequences, divine politics, and timeless moral lessons. So what happens when a mortal desires to be the king of heaven? Read on to know.
Watch Nahusha’s full story of fall from grace here:
The Fall of Indra and the Rise of Nahusha
It began with Indra, king of the gods, who committed a grievous sin: the unrighteous killing of the demon Vritra, who had Brahminic sanctity. Overwhelmed with guilt and shame, Indra vanished from the heavens, leaving his celestial throne vacant.
The gods, in turmoil, sought a new ruler. Their choice? King Nahusha, a mortal renowned for his wisdom and virtuous rule on Earth. Elevated by his great deeds and a hundred Ashwamedha yajnas (sacrifices), Nahusha was offered the position of Indra.
At first, Nahusha ruled well. Heaven prospered under his watch, and the gods found stability again. But power is a tricky thing—it flatters, tempts, and slowly corrupts.
Nahusha Curse Story: Rise, Arrogance & Divine Retribution
Nahusha’s humility faded. The divine pleasures of Svarga clouded his judgment. He indulged in opulence, basked in adoration, and began to see himself not just as a king—but as a god.
And then, he made a fateful mistake.
He cast his eyes upon Shachi (Indrani), the devoted wife of Indra. Possessed by lust and arrogance, he demanded she come to him, claiming that as the new Indra, he had rights over her too.
Shocked and horrified, Shachi sought protection from Brihaspati, the revered preceptor of the gods. Nahusha’s fury grew when she refused him. The gods pleaded with him to abandon his desire, but Nahusha scorned them, citing Indra’s own sins: his deceit in killing Vritra and his affair with Ahalya.
“Why now, do you speak of righteousness?” Nahusha challenged. “Shachi must come to me. That is final.”
A Queen’s Clever Plan
Shachi, ever wise and resolute, turned to prayer. She found Indra—now shrunk to the size of an atom and hiding within the fibers of a lotus stem in Manasarovar, deep in penance. Indra told her: “Agree to Nahusha’s wish, but with one condition. Ask him to arrive at your palace in a palanquin carried by sages.”
Shachi returned to Nahusha and feigned agreement. Delighted, the arrogant king agreed to her request, and—believing himself equal to gods and rishis—ordered the seven great sages (Saptarishis) to carry his palanquin.
The Curse That Ended a Reign
As the sages bore Nahusha toward Shachi’s chambers, his impatience grew. Drunk on lust and power, he shouted at the rishis to move faster.
Then he did the unthinkable.
He kicked Sage Agastya, commanding “Sarpa, Sarpa!” (“Go faster”—but also meaning “serpent”). Infuriated, Agastya cursed him on the spot:
“Fall from heaven, O arrogant king! Become a serpent and crawl upon the earth!”
In that moment, Nahusha’s glory shattered. He plummeted from the heavens, transforming into a massive python, condemned to roam the forests for thousands of years.
Restoration of Order
With Nahusha gone, Shachi reunited with Indra. Brihaspati cleansed Indra of his sins through penance and prayers to Vishnu. The king of the gods was restored to his throne, and order returned to heaven.
Nahusha, once a great king, now served as a mythic warning: Pride, when mixed with desire, can turn even the noblest into beasts.
Final Thoughts
The Nahusha and Indra story echoes through time as a tale of how even heaven can fall into chaos when virtue is lost. It teaches us that titles and power mean little without character—and that the gods watch even the highest among us.
If you found this tale intriguing, explore more stories of Hindu mythology that are filled with timeless wisdom, divine drama, and cosmic justice. Share this post with fellow mythology lovers and leave a comment with your favorite lesser-known myth.
