Shaunaka said: ‘The serpents were born, dear one — mighty and hard to overcome; but once they learned of that curse, what did they then do?’ Suta said: ‘Among them, the illustrious lord Shesha, of great renown, abandoned [his mother] Kadru and undertook a vast austerity: living on air alone, firm in his vow, practicing his penance at Gandhamadana, at Badari, at Gokarna, in the Pushkara forest, and on the slope of the Himavat. In those sacred fords and shrines, one by one, living in solitude, restrained, ever victorious over his senses, he practiced [his austerity]. The Grandsire (Brahma) beheld him performing this terrible austerity — withered down to skin, flesh and sinew, wearing matted locks and bark garments, that lord. And the Grandsire spoke to him, steadfast in truth and still practicing his penance: ‘What is this you are doing, Shesha? Work for the welfare of creatures. For by this severe austerity you are scorching [all] beings, O sinless one. Tell me the wish, Shesha, that has long dwelt in your heart.’ Shesha said: ‘All my brothers, born of the same mother, are dull of mind; I cannot bear to live with them — may you grant me leave [from this]. They constantly quarrel with one another like enemies; it is for this that I have taken up austerity — only so as not to see them. They cannot tolerate Vinata and her son; and we have yet another brother, the son of Vinata, O Grandsire. Him they hate exceedingly, though he is exceedingly mighty, by the boon granted to his father, the great Kashyapa. Therefore, having taken up austerity, I shall abandon this body — only so that even after death I may have no contact with them.’