The Serpents' Council

Verse 1 (1.37.1)

मातुः सकाशात्तं शापं श्रुत्वा वै पन्नगोत्तमः । वासुकिश्चिन्तयामास शापोऽयं न भवेत्कथम् ॥

mātuḥ sakāśāttaṃ śāpaṃ śrutvā vai pannagottamaḥ | vāsukiścintayāmāsa śāpo'yaṃ na bhavetkatham

Having heard that curse from his mother, Vasuki, best of serpents, pondered how it might be made void.

Verse 2 (1.37.2)

ततः स मन्त्रयामास भ्रातृभिः सह सर्वशः । ऐरावतप्रभृतिभिः सर्वैर्धर्मपरायणैः ॥

tataḥ sa mantrayāmāsa bhrātṛbhiḥ saha sarvaśaḥ | airāvataprabhṛtibhiḥ sarvairdharmaparāyaṇaiḥ

Then he took counsel with all his brothers, Airavata and the rest, every one of them devoted to dharma.

Verse 3 (1.37.3)

अयं शापो यथोद्दिष्टो विदितं वस्तथाऽनघाः । तस्य शापस्य मोक्षार्थं मन्त्रयित्वा यतामहे ॥

ayaṃ śāpo yathoddiṣṭo viditaṃ vastathā'naghāḥ | tasya śāpasya mokṣārthaṃ mantrayitvā yatāmahe

You know, sinless ones, how this curse was pronounced. Let us take counsel together and strive for release from it.

Verse 4 (1.37.4)

सर्वेषामेव शापानां प्रतिघातो हि विद्यते । न तु मात्राऽभिशप्तानां मोक्षः क्वचन विद्यते ॥

sarveṣāmeva śāpānāṃ pratighāto hi vidyate | na tu mātrā'bhiśaptānāṃ mokṣaḥ kvacana vidyate

Every curse has some counter; but for those cursed by their own mother there is no release anywhere.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with 1.33.4 of the critical edition (variant wording in the second line).

Verse 5 (1.37.5)

अव्ययस्याप्रमेयस्य सत्यस्य च तथाग्रतः । शप्ता इत्येव मे श्रुत्वा जायते हृदि वेपथुः ॥

avyayasyāprameyasya satyasya ca tathāgrataḥ | śaptā ityeva me śrutvā jāyate hṛdi vepathuḥ

When I hear that we were cursed in the very presence of the imperishable, immeasurable, true one, my heart trembles.

Verse 6 (1.37.6)

नूनं सर्वविनाशोऽयमस्माकं समुपागतः । शापः सृष्टो महाघोरो मात्रा खल्वविनीतया । न ह्येतां सोऽव्ययो देवः शपन्तीं प्रत्यषेधयत् ॥

nūnaṃ sarvavināśo'yamasmākaṃ samupāgataḥ | śāpaḥ sṛṣṭo mahāghoro mātrā khalvavinītayā | na hyetāṃ so'vyayo devaḥ śapantīṃ pratyaṣedhayat

Surely our total destruction has come upon us. Our wayward mother has uttered a most terrible curse, and the imperishable god did not stop her as she cursed.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Corrected शपत्नीं → शपन्तीं (misprint in Wikisource; "as she cursed" needs the present participle, as in the critical edition). The middle line (शापः सृष्टो महाघोरो …) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the other two lines = 1.33.6.

Verse 7 (1.37.7)

तस्मात्संमन्त्रयामोऽद्य भुजङ्गानामनामयम् । यथा भवेद्धि सर्वेषां मा नः कालोऽत्यगादयम् ॥

tasmātsaṃmantrayāmo'dya bhujaṅgānāmanāmayam | yathā bhaveddhi sarveṣāṃ mā naḥ kālo'tyagādayam

So let us take counsel today on how all the serpents may come to no harm, so that this moment does not slip past us.

Verse 8 (1.37.8)

सर्व एव हि नस्तावद्बुद्धिमन्तो विचक्षणाः । अपि मन्त्रयमाणा हि हेतुं पश्याम मोक्षणे ॥

sarva eva hi nastāvadbuddhimanto vicakṣaṇāḥ | api mantrayamāṇā hi hetuṃ paśyāma mokṣaṇe

All of us here are wise and discerning. If we take counsel together, we may yet find a means of release,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line = 1.33.8ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 9 (1.37.9)

यथा नष्टं पुरा देवा गूढमग्निं गुहागतम् । यथा स यज्ञो न भवेद्यथा वाऽपि पराभवः । जनमेजयस्य सर्पाणां विनाशकरणाय वै ॥

yathā naṣṭaṃ purā devā gūḍhamagniṃ guhāgatam | yathā sa yajño na bhavedyathā vā'pi parābhavaḥ | janamejayasya sarpāṇāṃ vināśakaraṇāya vai

just as the gods of old found Agni when he had vanished, hidden in a cave — some way for that sacrifice not to take place, or for it to be undone: the sacrifice of Janamejaya meant to destroy the serpents.

Note on the text: = 1.33.8cd + 1.33.9 of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 10 (1.37.10)

तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः सर्वे काद्रवेयाः समागताः । समयं चक्रिरे तत्र मन्त्रबुद्धिविशारदाः ॥

tathetyuktvā tataḥ sarve kādraveyāḥ samāgatāḥ | samayaṃ cakrire tatra mantrabuddhiviśāradāḥ

Saying "So be it," all the sons of Kadru gathered there, and, skilled in counsel and judgement, they set about settling on a course.

Note on the text: Corrected चकिरे → चक्रिरे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र, as in the critical edition).

Verse 11 (1.37.11)

एके तत्राब्रुवन्नागा वयं भूत्वा द्विजर्षभाः । जनमेजयं तु भिक्षामो यज्ञस्ते न भवेदिति ॥

eke tatrābruvannāgā vayaṃ bhūtvā dvijarṣabhāḥ | janamejayaṃ tu bhikṣāmo yajñaste na bhavediti

Some serpents there said, "We will take the form of eminent brahmins and beg Janamejaya: 'Let your sacrifice not take place.'"

Verse 12 (1.37.12)

अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागास्तत्र पण्डितमानिनः । मन्त्रिणोऽस्य वयं सर्वे भविष्यामः सुसंमताः ॥

apare tvabruvannāgāstatra paṇḍitamāninaḥ | mantriṇo'sya vayaṃ sarve bhaviṣyāmaḥ susaṃmatāḥ

Others, who thought themselves learned, said, "We will all become his ministers, highly esteemed by him.

Verse 13 (1.37.13)

स नः प्रक्ष्यति सर्वेषु कार्येष्वर्थविनिश्चयम् । तत्र बुद्धिं प्रदास्यामो यथा यज्ञो निवर्त्स्यति ॥

sa naḥ prakṣyati sarveṣu kāryeṣvarthaviniścayam | tatra buddhiṃ pradāsyāmo yathā yajño nivartsyati

He will ask us for a decision on every matter, and we will give him such advice that the sacrifice is called off.

Verse 14 (1.37.14)

स नो बहुमतान्राजा बुद्ध्या बुद्धिमतां वरः । यज्ञार्थं प्रक्ष्यति व्यक्तं नेति वक्ष्यामहे वयम् ॥

sa no bahumatānrājā buddhyā buddhimatāṃ varaḥ | yajñārthaṃ prakṣyati vyaktaṃ neti vakṣyāmahe vayam

The king, best of the wise, will think highly of us for our wisdom and will surely ask about the sacrifice; and we will say 'No,'

Verse 15 (1.37.15)

दर्शयन्तो बहून्दोषान्प्रेत्य चेह च दारुणान् । हेतुभिः कारणैश्चैव यथा यज्ञो भवेन्न सः ॥

darśayanto bahūndoṣānpretya ceha ca dāruṇān | hetubhiḥ kāraṇaiścaiva yathā yajño bhavenna saḥ

pointing out its many dire evils, in the next world and in this, with reasons and arguments, so that the sacrifice does not take place.

Verse 16 (1.37.16)

अथवा य उपाध्यायः क्रतोस्तस्य भविष्यति । सर्पसत्रविधानज्ञो राजकार्यहिते रतः ॥

athavā ya upādhyāyaḥ kratostasya bhaviṣyati | sarpasatravidhānajño rājakāryahite rataḥ

Or else, whoever is to be the preceptor of that rite, versed in the procedure of the serpent sacrifice and devoted to the king's interests —

Verse 17 (1.37.17)

तं गत्वा दशतां कश्चिद्भुजङ्गः स मरिष्यति । तस्मिन्मृते यज्ञकारे क्रतुः स न भविष्यति ॥

taṃ gatvā daśatāṃ kaścidbhujaṅgaḥ sa mariṣyati | tasminmṛte yajñakāre kratuḥ sa na bhaviṣyati

let some serpent go and bite him, and he will die. With the sacrificer dead, the rite will not take place.

Verse 18 (1.37.18)

ये चान्ये सर्पसत्रज्ञा भविष्यन्त्यस्य चर्त्विजः । तांश्च सर्वान्दशिष्यामः कृतमेवं भविष्यति ॥

ye cānye sarpasatrajñā bhaviṣyantyasya cartvijaḥ | tāṃśca sarvāndaśiṣyāmaḥ kṛtamevaṃ bhaviṣyati

And whoever else will serve as his priests, knowing the serpent sacrifice, we will bite them all. That way the thing will be done."

Verse 19 (1.37.19)

अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागा धर्मात्मानो दयालवः । अबुद्धिरेषा भवतां ब्रह्महत्या न शोभनम् ॥

apare tvabruvannāgā dharmātmāno dayālavaḥ | abuddhireṣā bhavatāṃ brahmahatyā na śobhanam

But other serpents, righteous and compassionate, said, "This is folly on your part. Killing a brahmin is no good thing.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with 1.33.19 of the critical edition (variant wording).

Verse 20 (1.37.20)

सम्यक्सद्धर्ममूला वै व्यसने शान्तिरुत्तमा । अधर्मोत्तरता नाम कृत्स्नं व्यापादयेज्जगत् ॥

samyaksaddharmamūlā vai vyasane śāntiruttamā | adharmottaratā nāma kṛtsnaṃ vyāpādayejjagat

In misfortune the best remedy is peace, firmly rooted in true dharma. Putting adharma foremost would bring ruin on the whole world."

Verse 21 (1.37.21)

अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागाः समिद्धं जातवेदसम् । वर्षैर्निर्वापयिष्यामो मेघा भूत्वा सविद्युतः ॥

apare tvabruvannāgāḥ samiddhaṃ jātavedasam | varṣairnirvāpayiṣyāmo meghā bhūtvā savidyutaḥ

Others said, "We will become clouds charged with lightning and put out the blazing sacrificial fire with our rain.

Verse 22 (1.37.22)

स्रुग्भाण्डं निशि गत्वा च अपरे भुजगोत्तमाः । प्रमत्तानां हरन्त्वाशु विघ्न एवं भविष्यति ॥

srugbhāṇḍaṃ niśi gatvā ca apare bhujagottamāḥ | pramattānāṃ harantvāśu vighna evaṃ bhaviṣyati

And let other great serpents go by night and swiftly carry off the ladles and vessels while the priests are off their guard. That will make an obstacle.

Verse 23 (1.37.23)

यज्ञे वा भुजगास्तस्मिञ्शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । जनान्दशन्तु वै सर्वे नैवं त्रासो भविष्यति ॥

yajñe vā bhujagāstasmiñśataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | janāndaśantu vai sarve naivaṃ trāso bhaviṣyati

Or at that sacrifice let serpents in their hundreds and thousands all bite the people; then our dread will come to nothing.

Verse 24 (1.37.24)

अथवा संस्कृतं भोज्यं दूषयन्तु भुजङ्गमाः । स्वेन मूत्रपुरीषेण सर्वभोज्यविनाशिना ॥

athavā saṃskṛtaṃ bhojyaṃ dūṣayantu bhujaṅgamāḥ | svena mūtrapurīṣeṇa sarvabhojyavināśinā

Or let the serpents spoil the prepared food with their urine and dung, which ruin every kind of food."

Verse 25 (1.37.25)

अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र ऋत्विजोऽस्य भवामहे । यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यामो दक्षिणा दीयतामिति ॥

apare tvabruvaṃstatra ṛtvijo'sya bhavāmahe | yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyāmo dakṣiṇā dīyatāmiti

Others there said, "We will become his priests and obstruct the sacrifice by saying, 'Let our fee be paid.'

Note on the text: = 1.33.25abcd of the critical edition (aligned by hand). From here to verse 28 Wikisource's verse division runs half a verse behind the critical edition's.

Verse 26 (1.37.26)

वश्यतां च गतोऽसौ नः करिष्यति यथेप्सितम् । अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र जले प्रक्रीडितं नृपम् ॥

vaśyatāṃ ca gato'sau naḥ kariṣyati yathepsitam | apare tvabruvaṃstatra jale prakrīḍitaṃ nṛpam

Once he is in our power he will do as we wish." Others there said, "When the king is sporting in the water,

Note on the text: = 1.33.25ef + 1.33.26ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 27 (1.37.27)

गृहमानीय बध्नीमः क्रतुरेवं भवेन्न सः । अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र नागाः पण्डितमानिनः ॥

gṛhamānīya badhnīmaḥ kraturevaṃ bhavenna saḥ | apare tvabruvaṃstatra nāgāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ

we will carry him off to our home and bind him; then the rite will not take place." Others there, serpents who thought themselves wise, said,

Note on the text: = 1.33.26cd + 1.33.27ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand); the critical edition reads सुकृतकारिणः for पण्डितमानिनः.

Verse 28 (1.37.28)

दशामस्तं प्रगृह्याशु कृतमेवं भविष्यति । छिन्नं मूलमनर्थानां मृते तस्मिन्भविष्यति ॥

daśāmastaṃ pragṛhyāśu kṛtamevaṃ bhaviṣyati | chinnaṃ mūlamanarthānāṃ mṛte tasminbhaviṣyati

"Let us seize him and bite him at once; that way it will be done. With him dead, the root of our troubles will be cut."

Note on the text: Corrected कृतपेवं → कृतमेवं (misprint in Wikisource; प for म, as in the critical edition). = 1.33.27cdef of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 29 (1.37.29)

एषा नो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिः सर्वेषामीक्षणश्रवः । अथ यन्मन्यसे राजन्द्रुतं तत्संविधीयताम् ॥

eṣā no naiṣṭhikī buddhiḥ sarveṣāmīkṣaṇaśravaḥ | atha yanmanyase rājandrutaṃ tatsaṃvidhīyatām

This is the settled judgement of us all, O king whose eyes serve as ears. Now whatever you think best, let it be arranged quickly.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with 1.33.28 of the critical edition (variant wording).

Verse 30 (1.37.30)

इत्युक्त्वा समुदैक्षन्त वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम् । वासुकिश्चापि संचिन्त्य तानुवाच भुजङ्गमान् ॥

ityuktvā samudaikṣanta vāsukiṃ pannagottamam | vāsukiścāpi saṃcintya tānuvāca bhujaṅgamān

Having spoken thus, they looked to Vasuki, best of serpents. And Vasuki, after reflecting, said to the serpents:

Verse 31 (1.37.31)

नैषा वो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्मता कर्तुं भुजङ्गमाः । सर्वेषामेव मे बुद्धिः पन्नगानां न रोचते ॥

naiṣā vo naiṣṭhikī buddhirmatā kartuṃ bhujaṅgamāḥ | sarveṣāmeva me buddhiḥ pannagānāṃ na rocate

This final judgement of yours, serpents, is not one to act upon. Not one of your ideas pleases me.

Verse 32 (1.37.32)

किं तत्र संविधातव्यं भवतां स्याद्धितं तु यत् । श्रेयः प्रसादनं मन्ये कश्यपस्य महात्मनः ॥

kiṃ tatra saṃvidhātavyaṃ bhavatāṃ syāddhitaṃ tu yat | śreyaḥ prasādanaṃ manye kaśyapasya mahātmanaḥ

What should be arranged in this matter that would truly be for your good? I think the best course is to win the favour of the great-souled Kashyapa.

Note on the text: Corrected कश्यपश्य → कश्यपस्य (misprint in Wikisource; genitive ending -स्य). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its first line resembles 1.33.31ab.

Verse 33 (1.37.33)

ज्ञातिवर्गस्य सौहार्दादात्मनश्च भुजङ्गमाः । न च जानाति मे बुद्धिः किंचित्कर्तुं वचो हि वः ॥

jñātivargasya sauhārdādātmanaśca bhujaṅgamāḥ | na ca jānāti me buddhiḥ kiṃcitkartuṃ vaco hi vaḥ

Out of affection for our kin and for myself, serpents, my mind cannot see how to act on any of your words.

Note on the text: Corrected हिवः → हि वः (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.37.34)

मया हीदं विधातव्यं भवतां यद्धितं भवेत् । अनेनाहं भृशं तप्ये गुणदोषौ मदाश्रयौ ॥

mayā hīdaṃ vidhātavyaṃ bhavatāṃ yaddhitaṃ bhavet | anenāhaṃ bhṛśaṃ tapye guṇadoṣau madāśrayau

It is I who must arrange whatever is for your good, and this torments me deeply, for both the merit and the blame rest on me.

Note on the text: The first line differs from 1.33.31ab of the critical edition; the second line = 1.33.31cd.