Shringi's Curse and Janamejaya's Resolve

Verse 1 (1.50.1)

ततः स राजा राजेन्द्र स्कन्धे तस्य भुजंगमम् । मुनेः क्षुत्क्षाम आसज्य स्वपुरं प्रययौ पुनः ॥

tataḥ sa rājā rājendra skandhe tasya bhujaṃgamam | muneḥ kṣutkṣāma āsajya svapuraṃ prayayau punaḥ

Then, O lord of kings, having laid the serpent on the sage's shoulder, the king, worn thin with hunger, went back to his own city.

Verse 2 (1.50.2)

ऋषेस्तस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूद्गवि जातो महायशाः । शृङ्गी नाम महातेजास्तिग्मवीर्योऽतिकोपनः ॥

ṛṣestasya tu putro'bhūdgavi jāto mahāyaśāḥ | śṛṅgī nāma mahātejāstigmavīryo'tikopanaḥ

That sage had a son, greatly renowned, born of a cow, named Shringi: of great splendour, fierce in power and very quick to anger.

Note on the text: Corrected गति → गवि (misprint in Wikisource; 'born of a cow', as the critical edition reads gavi jāto).

Verse 3 (1.50.3)

ब्रह्माणं समुपागम्य मुनिः पूजां चकार ह । सोऽनुज्ञातस्ततस्तत्र शृङ्गी शुश्राव तं तदा ॥

brahmāṇaṃ samupāgamya muniḥ pūjāṃ cakāra ha | so'nujñātastatastatra śṛṅgī śuśrāva taṃ tadā

He had gone to Brahma and paid him worship. Then, having taken his leave, Shringi heard there

Verse 4 (1.50.4)

सख्युः सकाशात्पितरं पित्रा ते धर्षितं पुरा । मृतं सर्पं समासक्तं स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्य तम् ॥

sakhyuḥ sakāśātpitaraṃ pitrā te dharṣitaṃ purā | mṛtaṃ sarpaṃ samāsaktaṃ sthāṇubhūtasya tasya tam

from a friend that his father had been insulted by your father: that a dead snake had been laid upon him as he stood still as a post,

Verse 5 (1.50.5)

वहन्तं राजशार्दूल स्कन्धेनानपकारिणम् । तपस्विनमतीवाथ तं मुनिप्रवरं नृप ॥

vahantaṃ rājaśārdūla skandhenānapakāriṇam | tapasvinamatīvātha taṃ munipravaraṃ nṛpa

and that he was bearing it on his shoulder, O tiger among kings, though he had done no wrong: that great ascetic, O king, foremost of sages,

Verse 6 (1.50.6)

जितेन्द्रियं विशुद्धं च स्थितं कर्मण्यथाद्भुतम् । तपसा द्योतितात्मानं स्वेष्वङ्गेषु यतं तदा ॥

jitendriyaṃ viśuddhaṃ ca sthitaṃ karmaṇyathādbhutam | tapasā dyotitātmānaṃ sveṣvaṅgeṣu yataṃ tadā

master of his senses, pure, steadfast in his wondrous discipline, his self shining with austerity, his limbs held in restraint,

Verse 7 (1.50.7)

शुभाचारं शुभकथं सुस्थितं तमलोलुपम् । अक्षुद्रमनसूयं च वृद्धं मौनव्रते स्थितम् । शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां पित्रा विनिकृतं तव ॥

śubhācāraṃ śubhakathaṃ susthitaṃ tamalolupam | akṣudramanasūyaṃ ca vṛddhaṃ maunavrate sthitam | śaraṇyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ pitrā vinikṛtaṃ tava

of good conduct and good speech, steady, free of greed, without meanness or envy, aged, keeping a vow of silence, a refuge for all beings: such a man had been wronged by your father.

Verse 8 (1.50.8)

शशापाथ महातेजाः पितरं ते रुषान्वितः । ऋषेः पुत्रो महातेजा बालोऽपि स्थविरद्युतिः ॥

śaśāpātha mahātejāḥ pitaraṃ te ruṣānvitaḥ | ṛṣeḥ putro mahātejā bālo'pi sthaviradyutiḥ

Then the sage's son, full of splendour, a boy yet with the radiance of an elder, cursed your father in his anger.

Verse 9 (1.50.9)

स क्षिप्रमुदकं स्पृष्ट्वा रोषादिदमुवाच ह । पितरं तेऽभिसन्धाय तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥

sa kṣipramudakaṃ spṛṣṭvā roṣādidamuvāca ha | pitaraṃ te'bhisandhāya tejasā prajvalanniva

Quickly touching water, he spoke these words in rage, aiming them at your father, as though blazing with his power:

Verse 10 (1.50.10)

अनागसि गुरौ यो मे मृतं सर्पमवासृजत् । तं नागस्तक्षकः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा प्रदहिष्यति ॥

anāgasi gurau yo me mṛtaṃ sarpamavāsṛjat | taṃ nāgastakṣakaḥ kruddhastejasā pradahiṣyati

"He who cast a dead snake on my blameless father, my guru, him the serpent Takshaka, enraged, shall burn with his fiery power,

Note on the text: Corrected सर्पवासृजत् → सर्पमवासृजत् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition reads sarpam avāsṛjat).

Verse 11 (1.50.11)

आशीविषस्तिग्मतेजा मद्वाक्यबलचोदितः । सप्तरात्रादितः पापं पश्य मे तपसो बलम् ॥

āśīviṣastigmatejā madvākyabalacoditaḥ | saptarātrāditaḥ pāpaṃ paśya me tapaso balam

that venomous one of fierce energy, driven by the force of my words, seven nights from now. That sinner! See the strength of my austerity."

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to 1.46.10.

Verse 12 (1.50.12)

इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र पिता यत्राऽस्य सोऽभवत् । दृष्ट्वा च पितरं तस्मै तं शापं प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥

ityuktvā prayayau tatra pitā yatrā'sya so'bhavat | dṛṣṭvā ca pitaraṃ tasmai taṃ śāpaṃ pratyavedayat

Having said this, he went to where his father was, and on seeing his father he told him of that curse.

Verse 13 (1.50.13)

स चापि मुनिशार्दूलः प्रेरयामास ते पितुः । शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं गुणान्वितम् ॥

sa cāpi muniśārdūlaḥ prerayāmāsa te pituḥ | śiṣyaṃ gauramukhaṃ nāma śīlavantaṃ guṇānvitam

And that tiger among sages sent to your father a disciple named Gauramukha, of good character and endowed with virtues.

Note on the text: The second line (naming the disciple Gauramukha) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the first line corresponds to 1.46.12.

Verse 14 (1.50.14)

आचख्यौ स तु विश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः । शप्तोऽसि मम पुत्रेण यत्तो भव महीपते ॥

ācakhyau sa tu viśrānto rājñaḥ sarvamaśeṣataḥ | śapto'si mama putreṇa yatto bhava mahīpate

When he had rested, he told the king everything in full: "You have been cursed by my son; be on your guard, lord of the earth.

Note on the text: Corrected आचख्यौं सत्त्व विश्रान्तो → आचख्यौ स तु विश्रान्तो (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara and a garbled 'सत्त्व' for the pronoun and particle; the reconstruction is the smallest fix that gives the evident sense). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to 1.46.12.

Verse 15 (1.50.15)

तक्षकस्त्वां महाराज तेजसाऽसौ दहिष्यति । श्रुत्वा च तद्वचो घोरं पिता ते जनमेजय ॥

takṣakastvāṃ mahārāja tejasā'sau dahiṣyati | śrutvā ca tadvaco ghoraṃ pitā te janamejaya

Takshaka, great king, will burn you with his fiery power." Hearing those dreadful words, Janamejaya, your father

Verse 16 (1.50.16)

यत्तोऽभवत्परित्रस्तस्तक्षकात्पन्नगोत्तमात् । ततस्तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे सप्तमे समुपस्थिते ॥

yatto'bhavatparitrastastakṣakātpannagottamāt | tatastasmiṃstu divase saptame samupasthite

was on his guard, greatly afraid of Takshaka, the foremost of serpents. Then, when the seventh day had arrived,

Verse 17 (1.50.17)

राज्ञः समीपं ब्रह्मर्षिः काश्यपो गन्तुमैच्छत । तं ददर्शाथ नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः काश्यपं तदा ॥

rājñaḥ samīpaṃ brahmarṣiḥ kāśyapo gantumaicchata | taṃ dadarśātha nāgendrastakṣakaḥ kāśyapaṃ tadā

the brahmin seer Kashyapa set out to go to the king. Takshaka, lord of serpents, then caught sight of Kashyapa.

Verse 18 (1.50.18)

तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं त्वरितं द्विजम् । क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥

tamabravītpannagendraḥ kāśyapaṃ tvaritaṃ dvijam | kva bhavāṃstvarito yāti kiṃ ca kāryaṃ cikīrṣati

The lord of serpents said to Kashyapa, the brahmin hurrying along: "Where are you going in such haste, and what work do you mean to do?"

Verse 19 (1.50.19)

यत्र राजा कुरुश्रेष्ठः परिक्षिन्नाम वै द्विज । तक्षकेण भुजंगेन धक्ष्यते किल सोऽद्य वै ॥

yatra rājā kuruśreṣṭhaḥ parikṣinnāma vai dvija | takṣakeṇa bhujaṃgena dhakṣyate kila so'dya vai

To where the king named Parikshit, best of the Kurus, is, O brahmin; for they say he is to be burned today by the serpent Takshaka.

Verse 20 (1.50.20)

गच्छाम्यहं तं त्वरितः सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम् । मयाऽभिपन्नं तं चापि न सर्पो धर्षयिष्यति ॥

gacchāmyahaṃ taṃ tvaritaḥ sadyaḥ kartumapajvaram | mayā'bhipannaṃ taṃ cāpi na sarpo dharṣayiṣyati

I am going to him in haste, to cure him of the fever at once. Once I have reached him, the snake will not harm him.

Verse 21 (1.50.21)

किमर्थं तं मया दष्टं संजीवयितुमिच्छसि । अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मन्पश्य मे वीर्यमद्भुतम् ॥

kimarthaṃ taṃ mayā daṣṭaṃ saṃjīvayitumicchasi | ahaṃ sa takṣako brahmanpaśya me vīryamadbhutam

Why do you wish to bring back to life one whom I have bitten? I am that very Takshaka, brahmin. See my wondrous power.

Note on the text: Corrected अहं त तक्षको → अहं स तक्षको (misprint in Wikisource; 'त' is not a word here; the same phrase 'अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मन्' occurs in the earlier telling of this meeting). The second line is not in the critical edition, which has a different second line here (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (1.50.22)

न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं तं संजीवयितुं नृपम् । इत्युक्त्वा तक्षकस्तत्र सोऽदशद्वै वनस्पतिम् ॥

na śaktastvaṃ mayā daṣṭaṃ taṃ saṃjīvayituṃ nṛpam | ityuktvā takṣakastatra so'daśadvai vanaspatim

"You cannot revive that king once I have bitten him." Having said this, Takshaka then bit a great tree.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (1.50.23)

स दष्टमात्रो नागेन भस्मीभूतोऽभवन्नगः । काश्यपश्च ततो राजन्नजीवयत तं नगम् ॥

sa daṣṭamātro nāgena bhasmībhūto'bhavannagaḥ | kāśyapaśca tato rājannajīvayata taṃ nagam

As soon as the serpent bit it, the tree was turned to ashes, O king; and then Kashyapa brought that tree back to life.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (1.50.24)

ततस्तं लोभयामास कामं ब्रूहीति तक्षकः । स एवमुक्तस्तं प्राह काश्यपस्तक्षकं पुनः ॥

tatastaṃ lobhayāmāsa kāmaṃ brūhīti takṣakaḥ | sa evamuktastaṃ prāha kāśyapastakṣakaṃ punaḥ

Then Takshaka tempted him, saying, "Name what you desire." Addressed thus, Kashyapa answered Takshaka in turn:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 25 (1.50.25)

धनलिप्सुरहं तत्र यामीत्युक्तश्च तेन सः । तमुवाच महात्मानं तक्षकः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥

dhanalipsurahaṃ tatra yāmītyuktaśca tena saḥ | tamuvāca mahātmānaṃ takṣakaḥ ślakṣṇayā girā

"I am going there in the hope of wealth." When he said this, Takshaka spoke to the great-souled man in gentle words:

Verse 26 (1.50.26)

यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे राज्ञस्तस्मात्ततोऽधिकम् । गृहाण मत्त एव त्वं सन्निवर्तस्व चानघ ॥

yāvaddhanaṃ prārthayase rājñastasmāttato'dhikam | gṛhāṇa matta eva tvaṃ sannivartasva cānagha

"Whatever wealth you hope to get from that king, take even more than that from me, and turn back, sinless one."

Verse 27 (1.50.27)

स एवमुक्तो नागेन काश्यपो द्विपदां वरः । लब्ध्वा वित्तं निववृते तक्षकाद्यावदीप्सितम् ॥

sa evamukto nāgena kāśyapo dvipadāṃ varaḥ | labdhvā vittaṃ nivavṛte takṣakādyāvadīpsitam

So addressed by the serpent, Kashyapa, best of men, received from Takshaka as much wealth as he wanted, and turned back.

Verse 28 (1.50.28)

तस्मिन्प्रतिगते विप्रे छद्मनोपेत्य तक्षकः । तं नृपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठं पितरं धार्मिकं तव ॥

tasminpratigate vipre chadmanopetya takṣakaḥ | taṃ nṛpaṃ nṛpatiśreṣṭhaṃ pitaraṃ dhārmikaṃ tava

When the brahmin had gone back, Takshaka approached in disguise, and that king, best of kings, your righteous father,

Verse 29 (1.50.29)

प्रासादस्थं यत्तमपि दग्धवान्विषवह्निना । ततस्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र विजयायाभिषेचितः ॥

prāsādasthaṃ yattamapi dagdhavānviṣavahninā | tatastvaṃ puruṣavyāghra vijayāyābhiṣecitaḥ

though he was on his guard in his palace, he burned with the fire of his venom. After that, tiger among men, you were consecrated for victory.

Verse 30 (1.50.30)

एतद्दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि यथावन्नृपसत्तम । अस्माभिर्निखिलं सर्वं कथितं तेऽतिदारुणम् ॥

etaddṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ cāpi yathāvannṛpasattama | asmābhirnikhilaṃ sarvaṃ kathitaṃ te'tidāruṇam

This is what we saw and heard, best of kings; we have told you all of it, exactly and in full, dreadful as it is.

Verse 31 (1.50.31)

श्रुत्वा चैतं नरश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्य पराभवम् । अस्य चर्षेरुदङ्कस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥

śrutvā caitaṃ naraśreṣṭha pārthivasya parābhavam | asya carṣerudaṅkasya vidhatsva yadanantaram

Now that you have heard of the king's downfall, best of men, and of this sage Uttanka, decide what is to be done next.

Verse 32 (1.50.32)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा जनमेजयः । उवाच मन्त्रिणः सर्वानिदं वाक्यमरिदमः ॥

etasminneva kāle tu sa rājā janamejayaḥ | uvāca mantriṇaḥ sarvānidaṃ vākyamaridamaḥ

At that very moment King Janamejaya, subduer of enemies, spoke these words to all his ministers:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (1.50.33)

अथ तत्कथितं केन यद्वृत्तं तद्वनस्पतौ । आश्चर्यभूतं लोकस्य भस्मराशीकृतं तदा ॥

atha tatkathitaṃ kena yadvṛttaṃ tadvanaspatau | āścaryabhūtaṃ lokasya bhasmarāśīkṛtaṃ tadā

But who told of what took place at that tree, the wonder of the world, when it was turned to a heap of ash?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.50.34)

यद्वृक्षं जीवयामास काश्यपस्तक्षकेण वै । नूनं मन्त्रैर्हतविषो न प्रणश्येत काश्यपात् ॥

yadvṛkṣaṃ jīvayāmāsa kāśyapastakṣakeṇa vai | nūnaṃ mantrairhataviṣo na praṇaśyeta kāśyapāt

Since Kashyapa brought back to life the tree that Takshaka had bitten, surely my father, his poison destroyed by Kashyapa's mantras, would not have perished.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 35 (1.50.35)

चिन्तयामास पापात्मा मनसा पन्नगाधमः । दष्टं यदि मया विप्रः पार्थिवं जीवयिष्यति ॥

cintayāmāsa pāpātmā manasā pannagādhamaḥ | daṣṭaṃ yadi mayā vipraḥ pārthivaṃ jīvayiṣyati

That wicked one, vilest of serpents, must have thought in his mind: "If the brahmin revives the king I have bitten,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 36 (1.50.36)

तक्षकः संहतविषो लोके यास्यति हास्यताम् । विचिन्त्यैवं कृता तेन ध्रुवं तुष्टिर्द्विजस्य वै ॥

takṣakaḥ saṃhataviṣo loke yāsyati hāsyatām | vicintyaivaṃ kṛtā tena dhruvaṃ tuṣṭirdvijasya vai

Takshaka, his venom undone, will become a laughingstock in the world." Having reasoned so, he surely made the brahmin content.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 37 (1.50.37)

भविष्यति ह्युपायेन यस्य दास्यामि यातनाम् । एकं तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि तद्वृत्तं निर्जने वने ॥

bhaviṣyati hyupāyena yasya dāsyāmi yātanām | ekaṃ tu śrotumicchāmi tadvṛttaṃ nirjane vane

There will be a way by which I shall make him suffer. But one thing I wish to hear: what happened in that lonely forest,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to 1.46.26.

Verse 38 (1.50.38)

संवादं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य काश्यपस्य च कस्तदा । श्रुतवान्दृष्टवांश्चापि भवत्सु कथमागतम् । श्रुत्वा तस्य विधास्येऽहं पन्नगान्तकरीं मतिम् ॥

saṃvādaṃ pannagendrasya kāśyapasya ca kastadā | śrutavāndṛṣṭavāṃścāpi bhavatsu kathamāgatam | śrutvā tasya vidhāsye'haṃ pannagāntakarīṃ matim

the conversation of the serpent lord and Kashyapa: who heard it or saw it then, and how did it come to you? When I have heard that, I will settle my resolve to destroy the serpents.

Verse 39 (1.50.39)

शृणु राजन्यथास्माकं येन तत्कथितं पुरा । समागतं द्विजेन्द्रस्य पन्नगेन्द्रस्य चाध्वनि ॥

śṛṇu rājanyathāsmākaṃ yena tatkathitaṃ purā | samāgataṃ dvijendrasya pannagendrasya cādhvani

Hear, O king, who it was that told us long ago of the meeting on the road between that best of brahmins and the lord of serpents.

Verse 40 (1.50.40)

तस्मिन्वृक्षे नरः कश्चिदिन्धनार्थाय पार्थिव । विचिन्वन्पूर्वमारूढः शुष्कशाखावनस्पतौ ॥

tasminvṛkṣe naraḥ kaścidindhanārthāya pārthiva | vicinvanpūrvamārūḍhaḥ śuṣkaśākhāvanaspatau

In that tree, O king, a certain man had climbed beforehand, gathering firewood among its dry branches.

Verse 41 (1.50.41)

न बुध्येतामुभौ तौ च नगस्थं पन्नगद्विजौ । सह तेनैव वृक्षेण भस्मीभूतोऽभवन्नृप ॥

na budhyetāmubhau tau ca nagasthaṃ pannagadvijau | saha tenaiva vṛkṣeṇa bhasmībhūto'bhavannṛpa

Neither the serpent nor the brahmin noticed him there in the tree, and he was turned to ashes together with that very tree, O king.

Verse 42 (1.50.42)

द्विजप्रभावाद्राजेन्द्र व्यजीवत्स वनस्पतिः । तेनागम्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ पुंसाऽस्मासु निवेदितम् ॥

dvijaprabhāvādrājendra vyajīvatsa vanaspatiḥ | tenāgamya dvijaśreṣṭha puṃsā'smāsu niveditam

By the brahmin's power, O lord of kings, the tree lived again. That man came, O best of the twice-born, and reported to us

Verse 43 (1.50.43)

यथा वृत्तं तु तत्सर्वं तक्षकस्य द्विजस्य च । एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यथादृष्टं श्रुतं च यत् । श्रुत्वा च नृपशार्दूल विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥

yathā vṛttaṃ tu tatsarvaṃ takṣakasya dvijasya ca | etatte kathitaṃ rājanyathādṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ ca yat | śrutvā ca nṛpaśārdūla vidhatsva yadanantaram

all that had passed between Takshaka and the brahmin. We have told you this, O king, as it was seen and heard. Now that you have heard it, tiger among kings, decide what is to be done next.

Verse 44 (1.50.44)

मन्त्रिणां तु वचः श्रुत्वा स राजा जनमेजयः । पर्यतप्यत दुःखार्तः प्रत्यपिंषत्करं करे ॥

mantriṇāṃ tu vacaḥ śrutvā sa rājā janamejayaḥ | paryatapyata duḥkhārtaḥ pratyapiṃṣatkaraṃ kare

Hearing the ministers' words, King Janamejaya burned with grief and pain, and he pressed his hands together.

Verse 45 (1.50.45)

निःश्वासमुष्णमसकृद्दीर्घं राजीवलोचनः । मुमोचाश्रूणि च तदा नेत्राभ्यां प्ररुदन्नृपः ॥

niḥśvāsamuṣṇamasakṛddīrghaṃ rājīvalocanaḥ | mumocāśrūṇi ca tadā netrābhyāṃ prarudannṛpaḥ

The lotus-eyed king sighed again and again, long and hot, and shed tears from his eyes, weeping.

Verse 46 (1.50.46)

उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः । दुर्धरं बाष्पमुत्सृज्य स्पृष्ट्वा चापो यथाविधि ॥

uvāca ca mahīpālo duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ | durdharaṃ bāṣpamutsṛjya spṛṣṭvā cāpo yathāvidhi

Then, filled with sorrow and grief, the protector of the earth let fall the tears he had long held back, touched water according to rule, and spoke.

Note on the text: The second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the first line corresponds to 1.46.34.

Verse 47 (1.50.47)

मुहूर्तमिव च ध्यात्वा निश्चित्य मनसा नृपः । अमर्षी मन्त्रिणः सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

muhūrtamiva ca dhyātvā niścitya manasā nṛpaḥ | amarṣī mantriṇaḥ sarvānidaṃ vacanamabravīt

After reflecting for a moment and making up his mind, the indignant king spoke these words to all his ministers:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 48 (1.50.48)

श्रुत्वैतद्भवतां वाक्यं पितुर्मे स्वर्गतिं प्रति । निश्चितेयं मम मतिर्या च तां मे निबोधत । अनन्तरं च मन्येऽहं तक्षकाय दुरात्मने ॥

śrutvaitadbhavatāṃ vākyaṃ piturme svargatiṃ prati | niściteyaṃ mama matiryā ca tāṃ me nibodhata | anantaraṃ ca manye'haṃ takṣakāya durātmane

Having heard your account of my father's going to heaven, this is my settled resolve; understand it from me. I hold that without delay, against the wicked Takshaka,

Verse 49 (1.50.49)

प्रतिकर्तव्यमित्येवं येन मे हिंसितः पिता । शृङ्गिणं हेतुमात्रं यः कृत्वा दग्ध्वा च पार्थिवम् ॥

pratikartavyamityevaṃ yena me hiṃsitaḥ pitā | śṛṅgiṇaṃ hetumātraṃ yaḥ kṛtvā dagdhvā ca pārthivam

I must take revenge, for he killed my father: he who made Shringi a mere pretext and burned the king.

Verse 50 (1.50.50)

इयं दुरात्मता तस्य काश्यपं यो न्यवर्तयत् । यद्यागच्छेत्स वै विप्रो ननु जीवेत्पिता मम ॥

iyaṃ durātmatā tasya kāśyapaṃ yo nyavartayat | yadyāgacchetsa vai vipro nanu jīvetpitā mama

This is his wickedness: he turned Kashyapa back. Had that brahmin come, my father would surely be alive.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to the second line of 1.46.37.

Verse 51 (1.50.51)

परिहीयेत किं तस्य यदि जीवेत्स पार्थिवः । काश्यपस्य प्रसादेन मन्त्रिणां विनयेन च ॥

parihīyeta kiṃ tasya yadi jīvetsa pārthivaḥ | kāśyapasya prasādena mantriṇāṃ vinayena ca

What would he have lost if the king had lived, through Kashyapa's grace and the ministers' prudent conduct?

Verse 52 (1.50.52)

स तु वारितवान्मोहात्काश्यपं द्विजसत्तमम् । संजिजीवयिषुं प्राप्तं राजानमपराजितम् ॥

sa tu vāritavānmohātkāśyapaṃ dvijasattamam | saṃjijīvayiṣuṃ prāptaṃ rājānamaparājitam

Yet in his folly he held back Kashyapa, best of brahmins, who had come wishing to restore the unconquered king to life.

Verse 53 (1.50.53)

महानतिक्रमो ह्येष तक्षकस्य दुरात्मनः । द्विजस्य योऽददद्द्रव्यं मा नृपं जीवयेदिति ॥

mahānatikramo hyeṣa takṣakasya durātmanaḥ | dvijasya yo'dadaddravyaṃ mā nṛpaṃ jīvayediti

Great is the offence of the wicked Takshaka, who gave the brahmin wealth so that he would not revive the king.

Verse 54 (1.50.54)

उत्तङ्कस्य प्रियं कर्तुमात्मनश्च महत्प्रियम् । भवतां चैव सर्वेषां गच्छाम्यपचितिं पितुः ॥

uttaṅkasya priyaṃ kartumātmanaśca mahatpriyam | bhavatāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ gacchāmyapacitiṃ pituḥ

To do what is dear to Uttanka, what is dear above all to myself, and what is dear to all of you, I shall go to avenge my father.