Karkoṭaka
Karkoṭaka is a great serpent-king (a nāga). He appears at a turning point in the Nala–Damayantī Upākhyāna (the account of Nala and Damayantī) in the Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 63–64.
Nala was wandering alone in the forest when he found Karkoṭaka caught in a fire. The serpent was held there by a curse from Nārada. Nala carried him out of the fire. Then the serpent bit Nala. The bite changed Nala’s body completely. He became a short, dark man whom no one could know. This let Nala live unknown in the world. The venom also troubled Kali, who lived inside Nala’s body. Karkoṭaka gave Nala a pair of garments. One of them would bring back Nala’s own form when he chose to take it up again.
The meeting in the forest
Nala had left Damayantī, or rather he had left her because Kali drove him to it. He then wandered alone in the forest. There he heard a serpent calling in pain from the middle of flames. Nala was kind by nature and ran to save the creature.
The serpent said his name was Karkoṭaka. He told Nala that a curse from Nārada held him, so that he could not move by himself. Nala lifted Karkoṭaka and carried him to safety. The serpent had told him to count his steps aloud. When Nala reached the count of ten, Karkoṭaka suddenly bit him. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 63)
The change in Nala
The venom of the bite changed Nala’s body at once. His skin darkened, he became shorter, and his face changed so much that he could not be known.
Karkoṭaka said that this was not done to harm him. The venom was aimed at Kali, who lived within Nala’s body. Because Nala’s outer form was changed, no one who had known him could know him again. This gave him a natural disguise. The touch of the venom on Kali inside him would make Kali suffer as long as he stayed there, and he could do no more harm.
Karkoṭaka gave Nala two garments. Nala was to put on one at once. He was to put on the other when he wished to take back his own form.
Karkoṭaka then told Nala to go to the city of Ayodhyā and work as the charioteer of King Ṛtuparṇa, using the name Bāhuka. He told Nala that in time, by this path, he would be joined again with Damayantī and would win back his kingdom. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 64)
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 63–64