The Serpent Sacrifice Ends

Verse 1 (1.58.1)

इदमत्यद्भुतं चान्यदास्तीकस्यानुशुश्रुम । तथा वरैश्छन्द्यमाने राज्ञा पारिक्षितेन हि ॥

idamatyadbhutaṃ cānyadāstīkasyānuśuśruma | tathā varaiśchandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena hi

We have heard this further marvel concerning Astika: while King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, was pressing boons upon him,

Verse 2 (1.58.2)

इन्द्रहस्ताच्च्युतो नागः ख एव यदतिष्ठत । ततश्चिन्तापरो राजा बभूव जनमेजयः ॥

indrahastāccyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yadatiṣṭhata | tataścintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ

the serpent, fallen from Indra's hand, stayed where he was in the sky. At this King Janamejaya grew anxious,

Verse 3 (1.58.3)

हूयमाने भृशं दीप्ते विधिवद्वसुरेतसि । न स्म स प्रापतद्वह्नौ तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥

hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīpte vidhivadvasuretasi | na sma sa prāpatadvahnau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ

for though oblations were being poured duly into the fiercely blazing fire, Takshaka, afflicted with fear, did not fall into it.

Verse 4 (1.58.4)

किं सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम् । न प्रत्यभात्तदाऽग्नौ यत्स पपात न तक्षकः ॥

kiṃ sūta teṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām | na pratyabhāttadā'gnau yatsa papāta na takṣakaḥ

Why, O sūta, did the store of mantras not come to the minds of those wise brahmins at the fire then, so that Takshaka did not fall?

Verse 5 (1.58.5)

तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्वित्रस्तं विसंज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम् । आस्तीकस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत् ॥

tamindrahastādvitrastaṃ visaṃjñaṃ pannagottamam | āstīkastiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vācastisro'bhyudairayat

To that best of serpents, terrified and senseless after slipping from Indra's hand, Astika cried out three times, "Stay! Stay!"

Verse 6 (1.58.6)

वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षे च हृदयेन विदूयता । यथा तिष्ठति वै कश्चित्खं च गां चान्तरा नरः ॥

vitasthe so'ntarikṣe ca hṛdayena vidūyatā | yathā tiṣṭhati vai kaścitkhaṃ ca gāṃ cāntarā naraḥ

And he stood still in the sky, his heart in torment, as a man might hang between the sky and the earth.

Verse 7 (1.58.7)

ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम् । काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम् ॥

tato rājābravīdvākyaṃ sadasyaiścodito bhṛśam | kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam

Then the king, strongly urged by the members of the assembly, said: "Let it be as Astika has asked.

Verse 8 (1.58.8)

समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः । प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत् ॥

samāpyatāmidaṃ karma pannagāḥ santvanāmayāḥ | prīyatāmayamāstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco'stu tat

Let this rite be brought to a close; let the serpents be safe; let Astika be pleased; and let the sūta's word come true."

Verse 9 (1.58.9)

ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिजः समजायत । आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च ॥

tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītijaḥ samajāyata | āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca

Then a clamour of joy arose; and once the boon had been granted to Astika, the sacrifice came to an end.

Verse 10 (1.58.10)

स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह । प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः ॥

sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha | prītimāṃścābhavadrājā bhārato janamejayaḥ

So it was with the sacrifice of King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, of the Pandava line; and Janamejaya of the Bharatas was pleased.

Verse 11 (1.58.11)

ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः । तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

ṛtvigbhyaḥ sasadasyebhyo ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ | tebhyaśca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

To the priests and the members of the assembly who had gathered there, he gave wealth by the hundreds and the thousands.

Verse 12 (1.58.12)

लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः । येनोक्तं तस्य तत्राग्रे सर्पसत्रनिवर्तने ॥

lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ | yenoktaṃ tasya tatrāgre sarpasatranivartane

And to the sūta Lohitaksha, the master builder, who had said there at the outset, concerning the stopping of the serpent sacrifice,

Verse 13 (1.58.13)

निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु । दत्त्वा द्रव्यं यथान्यायं भोजनाच्छादनान्वितम् ॥

nimittaṃ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṃ dadau bahu | dattvā dravyaṃ yathānyāyaṃ bhojanācchādanānvitam

that a brahmin would be its cause, the lord gave much wealth. Having given him goods as was fitting, together with food and clothing,

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to 1.53.13a; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; apparatus 1.53.13*0459).

Verse 14 (1.58.14)

प्रीतस्तस्मै नरपतिरप्रमेयपराक्रमः । ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

prītastasmai narapatiraprameyaparākramaḥ | tataścakārāvabhṛthaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

the king of immeasurable valour was pleased with him. Then he performed the concluding bath of the sacrifice in the manner the rules prescribe.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; apparatus 1.53.13*0459); the second corresponds to 1.53.13c.

Verse 15 (1.58.15)

आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम् । राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम् ॥

āstīkaṃ preṣayāmāsa gṛhāneva susaṃskṛtam | rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam

Glad at heart, the king sent Astika home, well honoured — the wise one, content, his purpose accomplished —

Verse 16 (1.58.16)

पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत् । भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ ॥

punarāgamanaṃ kāryamiti cainaṃ vaco'bravīt | bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau

and said to him: "You must come again. You shall be a member of the assembly at my great horse sacrifice."

Verse 17 (1.58.17)

तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव तदास्तीको मुदा युतः । कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम् ॥

tathetyuktvā pradudrāva tadāstīko mudā yutaḥ | kṛtvā svakāryamatulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam

Saying "So be it," Astika hurried off full of joy, having accomplished his matchless task and satisfied the king.

Verse 18 (1.58.18)

स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातुलं मातरं च ताम् । अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य तथा वृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ॥

sa gatvā paramaprīto mātulaṃ mātaraṃ ca tām | abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya tathā vṛttaṃ nyavedayat

Overjoyed, he went to his uncle and to his mother, greeted them and clasped their feet, and told them all that had happened.

Verse 19 (1.58.19)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणाः समेता । ये तत्रासन्पन्नगा वीतमोहाः । आस्तीके वै प्रीतिमन्तो बभूवु- । रूचुश्चैनं वरमिष्टं वृणीष्व ॥

etacchrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā | ye tatrāsanpannagā vītamohāḥ | āstīke vai prītimanto babhūvu- | rūcuścainaṃ varamiṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva

Hearing this, the serpents who had gathered there rejoiced, their dread gone; full of affection for Astika, they said to him, "Choose the boon you desire."

Note on the text: Corrected वृमीष्व → वृणीष्व (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण, the critical edition reads vṛṇīṣva).

Verse 20 (1.58.20)

भूयोभूयः सर्वशस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तं । किं ते प्रियं करवामाद्य विद्वन् । प्रीता वयं मोक्षिताश्चैव सर्वे । कामं किं ते करवामाद्य वत्स ॥

bhūyobhūyaḥ sarvaśaste'bruvaṃstaṃ | kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmādya vidvan | prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāścaiva sarve | kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmādya vatsa

Again and again they all said to him: "What kindness can we do you today, wise one? We are pleased, and all of us have been saved. What would you have us do for you today, child?"

Verse 21 (1.58.21)

सायं प्रातर्ये प्रसन्नात्मरूपा । लोके विप्रा मानवा ये परेऽपि । धर्माख्यानं ये पठेयुर्ममेदं । तेषां युष्मन्नैव किंचिद्भयं स्यात् ॥

sāyaṃ prātarye prasannātmarūpā | loke viprā mānavā ye pare'pi | dharmākhyānaṃ ye paṭheyurmamedaṃ | teṣāṃ yuṣmannaiva kiṃcidbhayaṃ syāt

Let brahmins, and other people in the world too, who with calm and serene minds recite this righteous story of mine morning and evening, have no fear at all from you.

Verse 22 (1.58.22)

तैश्चाप्युक्तो भागिनेयः प्रसन्नै- । रेतत्सत्यं काममेवं वरं ते । प्रीत्या युक्ताः कामितं सर्वशस्ते । कर्तारः स्म प्रवणा भागिनेय ॥

taiścāpyukto bhāgineyaḥ prasannai- | retatsatyaṃ kāmamevaṃ varaṃ te | prītyā yuktāḥ kāmitaṃ sarvaśaste | kartāraḥ sma pravaṇā bhāgineya

Pleased, they said to their nephew: "This is true; your boon shall be as you wish. In affection we shall do all that you desire, O nephew, devoted to you."

Verse 23 (1.58.23)

असितं चार्तिमन्तं च सुनीथं चापि यः स्मरेत् । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ नास्य सर्पभयं भवेत् ॥

asitaṃ cārtimantaṃ ca sunīthaṃ cāpi yaḥ smaret | divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṃ bhavet

Whoever calls to mind Asita, Artimanta and Sunitha, by day or by night, shall have no fear of serpents.

Verse 24 (1.58.24)

यो जरत्कारुणा जातो जरत्कारौ महायशाः । आस्तीकः सर्पसत्रे वः पन्नगान्योऽभ्यरक्षत । तं स्मरन्तं महाभागा न मां हिंसितुमर्हथ ॥

yo jaratkāruṇā jāto jaratkārau mahāyaśāḥ | āstīkaḥ sarpasatre vaḥ pannagānyo'bhyarakṣata | taṃ smarantaṃ mahābhāgā na māṃ hiṃsitumarhatha

"Glorious Astika, born of Jaratkaru by Jaratkaru, who protected you serpents at the serpent sacrifice — O blessed ones, you must not harm me, for I remember him."

Note on the text: Corrected महावशाः → महायशाः (misprint in Wikisource; व for य, the critical edition reads mahāyaśāḥ). The first line is a variant of 1.53.22a; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the third corresponds to the apparatus line 1.53.22*0463.

Verse 25 (1.58.25)

सर्पापसर्प भद्रं ते गच्छ सर्प महाविष । जनमेजयस्य यज्ञान्ते आस्तीकवचनं स्मर ॥

sarpāpasarpa bhadraṃ te gaccha sarpa mahāviṣa | janamejayasya yajñānte āstīkavacanaṃ smara

"Away, serpent! Good fortune to you; go, serpent of deadly venom! Remember Astika's word at the end of Janamejaya's sacrifice."

Note on the text: Corrected जनेमेजयस्य → जनमेजयस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign on न). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.22*0463).

Verse 26 (1.58.26)

आस्तीकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा यः सर्पो न निवर्तते । शतधा भिद्यते मूर्धा शिंशवृक्षफलं यथा ॥

āstīkasya vacaḥ śrutvā yaḥ sarpo na nivartate | śatadhā bhidyate mūrdhā śiṃśavṛkṣaphalaṃ yathā

The serpent who hears Astika's word and does not turn back — its head splits into a hundred pieces, like the fruit of the shimsha tree.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.22*0463).

Verse 27 (1.58.27)

स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा द्विजेन्द्रः । समागतैस्तैर्भुजगेन्द्रमुख्यैः । संप्राप्य प्रीतिं विपुलां महात्मा । ततो मनो गमनायाथ दध्रे ॥

sa evamuktastu tadā dvijendraḥ | samāgataistairbhujagendramukhyaiḥ | saṃprāpya prītiṃ vipulāṃ mahātmā | tato mano gamanāyātha dadhre

Thus addressed by the chief lords of the serpents gathered there, that great-souled best of brahmins was greatly pleased, and then set his mind on leaving.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.22*0463).

Verse 28 (1.58.28)

इत्येवं नागराजोऽथ नागानां मध्यगस्तदा । उक्त्वा सहैव तैः सर्पैः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ ॥

ityevaṃ nāgarājo'tha nāgānāṃ madhyagastadā | uktvā sahaiva taiḥ sarpaiḥ svameva bhavanaṃ yayau

Having spoken thus, the king of the serpents, standing in the midst of the serpents, then went with those serpents to his own abode.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quote marks (`…') and a stray double danda. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.23*0464).

Verse 29 (1.58.29)

मोक्षयित्वा तु भुजगान्सर्पसत्राद्द्विजोत्तमः । जगाम काले धर्मात्मा दिष्टान्तं पुत्रपौत्रवान् ॥

mokṣayitvā tu bhujagānsarpasatrāddvijottamaḥ | jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān

Having freed the serpents from the serpent sacrifice, that righteous best of brahmins, blessed with sons and grandsons, reached his appointed end in due time.

Verse 30 (1.58.30)

इत्याख्यानं मयास्तीकं यथावत्तव कीर्तितम् । यत्कीर्तयित्वा सर्पेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥

ityākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvattava kīrtitam | yatkīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit

Thus I have told you the story of Astika as it truly was; by reciting it, one need have no fear of serpents anywhere —

Verse 31 (1.58.31)

यथा कथितवान्ब्रह्मन्प्रमतिः पूर्वजस्तव । पुत्राय रुरवे प्रीतः पृच्छते भार्गवोत्तम ॥

yathā kathitavānbrahmanpramatiḥ pūrvajastava | putrāya rurave prītaḥ pṛcchate bhārgavottama

just as your forefather Pramati, O brahmin, gladly told it to his son Ruru when he asked, O best of the Bhrigus.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.26*0467).

Verse 32 (1.58.32)

यद्वाक्यं श्रुतवांश्चाहं तथा च कथितं मया । आस्तीकस्य कवेर्विप्र श्रीमच्चरितमादितः ॥

yadvākyaṃ śrutavāṃścāhaṃ tathā ca kathitaṃ mayā | āstīkasya kavervipra śrīmaccaritamāditaḥ

As I heard the account, so I have told it — the glorious life of the wise Astika from its beginning, O brahmin —

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; apparatus 1.53.26*0467); the second corresponds to 1.53.26c.

Verse 33 (1.58.33)

यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान्ब्रह्मञ्श्रुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम् । व्येतु ते सुमहद्ब्रह्मन्कौतूहलमरिन्दम ॥

yanmāṃ tvaṃ pṛṣṭavānbrahmañśrutvā ḍuṇḍubhabhāṣitam | vyetu te sumahadbrahmankautūhalamarindama

the story you asked me for, O brahmin, after hearing the words of the Dundubha. Let your great curiosity now be at rest, O subduer of foes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives it in its apparatus, 1.53.25*0465).

Verse 34 (1.58.34)

श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात् ॥

śrutvā dharmiṣṭhamākhyānamāstīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam | sarvapāpavinirmukto dīrghamāyuravāpnuyāt

Whoever hears this righteous story of Astika, which increases merit, is freed from all sins and gains a long life.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quote marks (`…') and a stray double danda around the second line. The first line corresponds to 1.53.26a; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; apparatus 1.53.26*0469).