In the previous birth Ajagara was King Nahuṣa (Nahusha). Cursed by Agastya, he took the form of a snake, and metamorphosed into a giant ajagara (python). Ajagara-Nahuṣa overwhelmed Bhīma (Bhima) with his power and strength, and imprisoned him with the hope of having a conversation with Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira). He was finally able to meet with Yudhiṣṭhira, and talk to him, which freed him from the curse. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) the conversation between Yudhiṣṭhira and Ajagara is known as the philosophically significant Ajagaraparva.