Nala bitten by Karkata

Having left Damayanti, Nala saw a huge fire. He heard a voice calling out to him and asking him to enter the fire. Nala stepped in and saw a naga sitting there on his coils. He said his name was Karkat and he had been cursed by Narada to stay there till Nala helped him. The naga asked Nala to carry him out.

Nala did that and left the Naga in a safe spot. The Naga said he would help Nala and told him to take a stepo forward. The moment Nala did so, he was bitten by the Naga. Nala went a change in his body and looked different.

The Naga said Please do not be amazed. Kali, who is now in your body, will have to live with my venom, in pain, till he leaves you. Go to Ayodhya and meet the king there called Rituparna. He is skilled in gambling and the game of dice. Learn the game from him. You will have no fear from animals. Tell him your name is Vahuka. Soon you will be united with your wife and children. Saying this Karkata gave a garment to Nala and said Keep this carefully. When you want to change back to your original form, wear this.  Saying this, Karkata left.

Bhima in Nagloka

Bhima in the river, went where the current took him. Slowly going into the water, he went down and reached the land of the Nagas, under the water.

Angry at seeing this strange object floating into their kingdom, these snakes began biting Bhima. The poison in the snakes acted as an anecdote and neutralized the poison in Bhima's body.

Awake, Bhima broke the ropes that tied him. Then seeing the snakes around them, he started grabbing them and hurling them around. Scared, the snaked fled. They went to Vasuka, their king, and told him all that had happened.

Vasuki wanted to see this person so went to see Bhima accompanied by his snakes. He recognized Bhima as a descendant of his and in sweet tones and words calmed Bhima. He gifted him many jewels and weapons. He then told the snakes never to harm Bhima.

He then took Bhima to his house where he gave him food and drink. There were pots of some drink there. Bhima after his food dranks from a few of the drinks. Each pot contained a drink that would give the one who consumed it, the strength of a thousand elephants. Having drunk from eight of those pots, Bhima gained the strength of eight thousand elephants.

After that Bhima went to sleep.

Vinata cursed

The sages listening to the tale from Sauti wanted to know more. Sauti continued.
Prajapati Daksha had two beautiful daughters - Kadaru and Vinata. He got them married to Rishi Kashyapa.
The two wives used to serve their husband dutify. One day, pleased, Kashyapa asked them to ask for a boon. Kadaru said she wanted thousand Nagas as her sons. Vinata said she wanted two sons, who would be greater in strength than the combined strength of Kadaru's sons.
In time, the two wives became heavy with child.
Once when Kashyapa was away, the two wives gave birth. Kadaru had a thousand eggs and Vinata had two eggs.
They careful kept the eggs in safe place to hatch. In time, Kadaru's eggs hatched and a thousand snakes were born from that.
Vinata was hurt. She and her sister had given birth at the same time, so why did her eggs not hatch. Not able to control herself, she went and broke one of the eggs. From that egg emerged a child who skin color was like copper. The child was only half formed. Angry at being brought forth before time, the child cursed his mother. You were not patient and could not control yourself. I curse you. You were jealous seeing your sister's sons born before yours, and now you will have to serve as a slave to that same sister. You have one egg left. Do not touch that. One who will be born from that will be responsible for lifting your curse.
Dejected Vinata left.

One day Kadaru and Vinata were sitting when they saw Uchchaihshravas passing by. Uchchaihshravas was a wonderful looking horse. Decked in gems, it had a regal gait. This horse was born, when the cosmic ocean was churned.