Takshaka

Quick Facts

About Takshaka

The serpent king of Khandava forest whose home was burned by Arjuna and Agni, kindling an undying enmity with the Kuru line. Generations later he slew King Parikshit with his venom, provoking Janamejaya's great snake sacrifice - the very occasion at which the Mahabharata was first recited.

In Their Words

Fire took my home; venom shall take your line.

Takshaka

Traits

• Vengeful
• Venomous
• Ancient
• Cunning

Story Appearances

• When Gods Made WarSerpent king whose forest burns❧ 18 min
• Utanka and the EarringsSteals the queen's earrings❧ 20 min

Stories Featuring Takshaka

20 further tales on this site name Takshaka, in canonical reading order.

• Astika Saves the SnakesThe End of the Sarpa SatraAdi Parva ‧ 20 min
• Garuda and the AmritaThe Great Bird's QuestAdi Parva ‧ 19 min
• The King Who Made Fire SickTwelve years of butter and the appetite it ruinedAdi Parva ‧ 18 min
• The Bow Out of the WaterWhat Varuna kept until two men needed itAdi Parva ‧ 16 min
• The Lineages of Gods and DemonsVaishampayana recites the descent of every creature from Brahma and the daughters of DakshaAdi Parva ‧ 22 min
• The Snake Who Was a SageA widower's war on an entire speciesAdi Parva
• The Council of the SerpentsA doomed people debating how to surviveAdi Parva
• Nagaloka, the Serpent Realm BelowThe jeweled underworld of the nagasAdi Parva
• The Seven Days of ParikshitA good king's lapse and a good deathAdi Parva
• The Physician Who Turned BackThe man who could have saved the kingAdi Parva
• Takshashila, City of the Serpent SacrificeWhere the epic was first heardAdi Parva
• The Cow at the Bottom of the WorldSurabhi, the four cows of the quarters, and the cities beneath PatalaUdyoga Parva ‧ 16 min
• Garuda's Map of the WorldThe four directions described from a bird's backUdyoga Parva ‧ 18 min
• The One Who Walked Ahead of the ChariotArjuna finally asks who has been winning his battlesDrona Parva ‧ 17 min
• The One Who Walked Before the CarVyasa tells Arjuna whose lance was breaking the ranks in front of himDrona Parva ‧ 24 min
• The Vows Before the Final DuelKarna, Shalya, Krishna and Arjuna each say what they will do when the other man diesKarna Parva ‧ 24 min
• The Serpent in the ArrowA grudge that waited a generation for one shotKarna Parva
• The Verdict at the Fallen KingBalarama's plough, Duryodhana's indictment, and the flowers that fell from the skyShalya Parva ‧ 17 min
• Vyasa Brings Back ParikshitA Son Bathes His Dead Father at the Snake SacrificeAshramavasika Parva ‧ 16 min
• Balarama Returns to the SeaThe Serpent Leaves by the Mouth It Came FromMausala Parva ‧ 16 min

Character Arc

1. 1The BurningHis forest home destroyed
2. 2The VenomSlays King Parikshit

Key Relationships

• Sworn Enemy➝Arjuna

Places in Takshaka's Story

Drawn from the stories Takshaka appears in.

• Nagalokaनागलोक
• Hastinapurहस्तिनापुर
• Amaravatiअमरावती
• Kshira Sagaraक्षीरसागर
• Takshashilaतक्षशिला
• Banks of the Gangaगङ्गा तट
• Forest Hermitageवन आश्रम
• Naimisharanyaनैमिषारण्य
• Khandava Forestखाण्डव वन
• Kurukshetraकुरुक्षेत्र
• Gandharaगान्धार
• Banks of the Yamunaयमुना तट

Related Characters

Others counted among the Sages & Others.

• ✦Sage Kanva
• ◎Eklavya
• ★Shukracharya
• ♛Vrishaparva
• ♛Yadu
• ✧Princess Amba