Serpents make plans to rid themselves of their mother's curse, save themselves.

Vasuki, the eldest of all Kadru's sons and the leader of the snakes was extremely worried about the curse that their mother had laid upon them. So he called all his brothers and they started conferencing about how to get rid of the curse that that had befallen them. Vasuki said, "Brothers, all of you know that we have been cursed by our mother and the onus is on us to find a solution to this problem that is staring at us. I can't think of a way to get rid of the curse and I would like to hear what you have to say to this." The intelligent and the clever snakes out of them said that we should assume the form of brahmins and go to Janmejaya's Yajna and request him not to perform the Yajna.

Some of them said that they should become his confidantes and advice him against performing the Yajna. Some one said that they should go and bite the priest who is performing the Yajna so that he dies and the Yajna cannot be performed. But the kind and just snakes among them were horrified and would not agree with the plans to kill the priest. They said, "It is unthinkable that we are even contemplating this when we know that killing of brahmins is a grave sin. It is not only foolish to think of such a thing but also wrong. In the times of trouble only good conduct can save us. If we resort to evil deeds then all of us are sure to be destroyed." Some of the snakes said that they would become clouds and rain on the Yajna so that the sacred fires are doused; few of them said that they would steel the offerings of the Yajna and a few suggested that they should kill one lakh persons by biting them.

When none of the suggestions seemed feasible the snakes turned to Vasuki for advice. Vasuki was perturbed by the impractical suggestions that were coming forth. He said that he did not approve of any suggestion and suggested that they should turn to their father Rishi Kashyap for advice. He felt that as he was the eldest, the responsibility of doing the right thing was his. One of the snakes called Elapatra, who was silent up to now, spoke, "Brothers, there is no way that this Yajna can be stopped or Janmejaya pacified. If we are fated to commit a sin then we should also leave it to fate to decide our punishment or redemption. Nobody can help us now. Listen to what I have to say carefully. The day our mother cursed us, I went and hid in her lap out of fear. Listening to the cruel words from our mother's mouth, the Gods went to Brahma and asked him, "Who else but the stone-hearted Kadru could have cursed her sons the way she did? You too, did not negate the curse but condoned it. Why did you do so?" Brahma said, "The population of the snakes on the Earth has increased.

They are full of anger and are cruel and poisonous. For the welfare of mankind, I did not stop Kadru. This curse will only cause harm to the mean, sinners and evil snakes. The snakes who are just and kind will be spared. There is another thing though. A saint born in the Yayavar family, called Jaratkaru will have a son called Aasteek. He will be able to persuade Janmejaya to stop the Yajna and save the good snakes." When the Gods asked Brahma to tell them more he said that Rishi Jaratkaru would marry the sister of Vasuki who is also called Jaratkaru. She will give birth to Aasteek who will free the snakes.

Thus satisfied the Gods returned to their homes. And that is why, Vasuki, you will have to marry your sister to Rishi Jaratkaru when he comes to ask for a wife as alms. This is the only way we can get rid of this problem." All the snakes were pleased with what Elapatra had to say. After this Vasuki carefully started nurturing his sister. A few days after this incident, the churning of the ocean for the ambrosia Amrit took place in which Vasuki was used as the rope. It was then that Vasuki was taken to Brahma by the Gods and Vasuki was told the same things that Elapatra had told him. Vasuki then sent his brother snakes to search for Rishi Jaratkaru and asked them to alert him when the Rishi started looking for a wife. This was the only way in which the snakes could survive.