Sauti continued:
When the Ritwiks, masters of sacred rites,
began to pour clarified butter into the flas,
chanting nas of serpents with precise intonation,
the fire flared, a tongue of divine judgnt.
Then fell the snakes, dreadful and many,
coiling, hissing, crying aloud in terror.
The fat and marrow of their burning forms
ran in dark rivulets, flowing upward unnaturally—
against the will of gravity, as though seeking escape.
The stench of burning flesh and scale
choked the air; it was insufferable.
The atmosphere turned foul;
even the wind seed burdened with grief.
From the sky, from the earth, from the waters,
the serpents ca, as though summoned by doom.
So shrieked as they plunged.
Others hovered in fear, their cries echoing
in a growing chorus of lantation.
But far from the ritual grounds, in dread and urgency,
Takshaka, prince of serpents and son of Kadru,
learned of the rite begun in wrath by Janajaya,
and a great terror gripped his heart.
He flew through the heavens,
serpent turned suppliant,
to the court of Purandara—Indra,
lord of the skies and king of gods.
Before Indra he bowed, coils loosened in fear,
and told all that had passed—
the curse, the sacrifice, the fire,
and his own act against Parikshit.
With voice trembling and fangs concealed,
he begged for shelter, protection from destruction.
And Indra, pleased with his humility, and already reconciled by the pleas of Brahma, said unto him:
“O Takshaka, prince among serpents,
be not afraid. Here, in my heavenly court,
no fire shall touch thee.
For thy sake I have already pacified
the Grandsire Brahma,
and thy life shall be preserved.
Let thy heart be at ease.”
Thus protected, Takshaka remained
hidden in the celestial abode of the gods,
while below, the fire roared, and the snakes burned.
Thus tornted by grief, Vasuki,
king of the serpents,
his heart shattered by the sight of
his kin falling one by one into the sacred fla,
summoned his sister, pale and trembling.
Unlawfully taken from , this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
With trembling voice and tear-laden eyes,
he spoke:
“O sister mine, noble daughter of our race,
the fire of sacrifice scorches my soul.
The sky dims before ; the stars fade.
My limbs fail , and my thoughts reel—
I feel I shall fall next into the flas.
My people, my blood, my house—all perish.
The curse of our mother now consus us whole.
But you, O best of Naga won,
were given unto the sage Jaratkaru
for this very mont.
The Grandsire, Brahma himself,
foretold that from your womb
a protector shall arise.
That protector, your son Astika,
pure in conduct, versed in the Vedas,
and revered even by the wise,
shall bring this destruction to an end.
Go to him, child of virtue.
Entreat him with all your heart.
Let not your son delay,
for the ti has co
to fulfill the purpose of his birth.”
Then the snake-da Jaratkaru, calling her son, spoke to him in accordance with Vasuki’s direction:
“O son, the ti has co to fulfill the purpose for which I was given in marriage to your father by my brother. Therefore, rise and do what must be done.”
And Astika said:
“Tell , O mother, why you were bestowed on my father by my uncle. Speak truthfully, so that I may understand and act accordingly.”
Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of snakes, unmoved by the general distress and always intent on the welfare of her kin, spoke unto her son:
“O son, know that Kadru is regarded as the mother of all snakes. In wrath, she once cursed her sons. When her children refused to deceive Vinita by falsely declaring the tail of Ucchaishravas, the celestial horse, as black, she grew angry and said: ‘As you have disobeyed in this matter, you shall all perish in the snake sacrifice of King Janajaya. There, Vayu, in the form of the sacrificial fire, shall consu you, and your souls shall pass to the region of the unredeed.’
At that mont, the Grandsire of all beings, hearing Kadru’s words, confird them, saying, ‘Be it so.’ Thus was her curse affird.
Vasuki, hearing the curse and the confirmation of the Grandsire, was deeply distressed and sought protection from the gods. Later, when the churning of the ocean for Amrita was complete and the gods had succeeded in obtaining the nectar, Vasuki, leading them, once again approached the Grandsire. Together, the gods and Vasuki humbly entreated him, who was born of the lotus, to show rcy and render Kadru’s curse fruitless.”
And the gods said unto Brahma, “O Lord, Vasuki, the king of snakes, is overwheld with sorrow for the fate of his kin. How may his mother Kadru’s curse be rendered abortive?”
Brahma replied, “Jaratkaru shall take a wife also nad Jaratkaru. A brahmana son born of her will be the savior of the serpents.”
Hearing these words from the Grandsire, Vasuki, the best among snakes, sought out thy high-souled father and bestowed —his sister—upon him in marriage, O thou of godlike appearance. That union took place before the comncent of this fearful sacrifice, and from it, you were born.
Now the ti has co. It is for you to protect us from this dire threat. Save , your mother, and save my brother Vasuki from the sacrificial fire, that the purpose for which I was given in marriage be not rendered vain.
What say you, O my son?
Then the gods, moved by the anguish of Vasuki, spoke unto Brahma:
“O Lord of all creatures, Vasuki, the king of serpents, is consud by sorrow.
Can his mother Kadru’s dreadful curse be undone? Shall the snake race be saved?”
To them the Grandsire, creator of the worlds, thus spoke with calm foresight:
“Let Jaratkaru, the sage, take to wife a maiden of the sa na—Jaratkaru.
From their union shall be born a son, wise and resolute,
A Brahmana of great rit, who shall halt the burning of the serpents.
He shall be their deliverer.”
Hearing this, Vasuki, the noble serpent king,
Acted swiftly, and offered , his sister, unto thy father,
The ascetic of rigid vows, before this very sacrifice began.
And from that marriage, O child of bright destiny, you were born.
Now the ti foretold has arrived.
O son,
Rise now, and fulfill that purpose divine—
Save us, your mother and your uncle Vasuki,
Lest the sacred vow for which I was given
Fall unfulfilled into the fire’s cruel embrace.
What do you think, O son of dharma?
Sauti continued:
Thus addressed by his mother, the noble Astika bowed his head in assent and said,
“Yes, I shall do it.”
Then turning to the stricken Vasuki, whose heart was broken with dread,
He spoke as though breathing life into his fading hope:
“O Vasuki, best among serpents, great one of noble soul,
Hear now my words, for I speak the truth.
Truly do I say—I shall relieve thee from this ancient curse.
Be at ease, O King of the snakes,
For there is no more fear.
I shall strive with all my heart,
That good may co of this dreadful rite.
Never has it been said—even in jest—that my words were false.
And now, in so solemn a matter, let my resolve speak for itself.
Today I shall go to the sacrificial hall,
Where Janajaya, son of Parikshit, is installed in sacred duty.
With words full of blessing and humble praise,
I shall seek to turn his heart.
O high-minded one, O king of the serpents,
Believe in , and in the strength of my vow—
For my resolve, once made, shall never go unfulfilled.”
And Vasuki, overwheld with dread, cried out:
“O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks.
The four quarters fade before my eyes—
I cannot discern the directions of the earth.
This curse, laid by our own mother, burns within like a fever.”
But Astika, steadfast and serene, replied:
“O best of serpents, grieve not.
It is not fitting for you, born of might and wisdom, to despair.
That fire, which blazes now with the wrath of fate—
That terrible punishnt, fierce as the fla
That ends the yuga—I shall quench it.
Be still, O king of the Nagas.
Let your fear depart—
For I, your sister’s son,
Shall see this curse undone.”
Sauti continued:
Though barred at first by the vigilant doorkeepers,
The noble Brahmana, Astika—mighty in penance and purpose—
Won them over with gentle words and a countenance radiant with virtue.
Thus, permitted at last, he entered the sacrificial compound.
There, in that vast enclosure where flas danced with sacred power,
The illustrious Astika, foremost among the virtuous,
Approached with humility and reverence.
He bowed to King Janajaya, lord of infinite achievents,
Offered salutations to the Ritwiks and the wise Sadasyas,
And made due obeisance to the blazing sacrificial fires,
Each kindled with holy chants and fed with clarified butter.
Then Astika, possessed of serene countenance and the luster of austerity, entered the sacrificial compound. With reverence in his heart and wisdom on his tongue, he approached the assembly where King Janajaya, the Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and the sacred fires shone like celestial stars in a ritual firmant. Standing amidst them, he raised his voice in praise, and his words flowed like the Ganga—pure, lodious, and exalted:
"Salutations to thee, O Janajaya,
Scion of heroes, lord of righteous sway,
By whose command the ancient rites are stirred,
And Veda's breath in sacred fire is heard.
Salute I next the holy priestly line,
Ritwiks who chant with accents so divine—
Whose minds are fixed like dhruva in the sky,
Upon the rites that lift the soul on high.
Ye Sadasyas, firm in scripture’s art,
Who judge each rite with discriminating heart,
Your presence here is like the stars above,
Bestowing brilliance, justice, dharma, love.
And thou, O Agni, ssenger of gods,
Who through the ghee along the heavens plods,
May thy tongues, blazing with mantric song,
Bear our praise and offerings swift and strong."
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