01.033
Library: Focus shifts to snake sacrifice of Janamejaya. Snakes give inadequate suggestions on overcoming the danger.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
mātuḥ sakāśāttaṃ śāpaṃ śrutvā pannagasattamaḥ। vāsukiścintayāmāsa śāpo'yaṃ na bhavetkatham ॥1-33-1॥
Upon hearing the curse from his mother, Vasuki, the chief of serpents, pondered on how the curse might be averted.
tataḥ sa mantrayāmāsa bhrātṛbhiḥ saha sarvaśaḥ। airāvataprabhrtibhirye sma dharmaparāyaṇāḥ ॥1-33-2॥
Then he consulted with his brothers and others like Airavata, who were truly devoted to righteousness.
vāsukiruvāca॥
Vasuki spoke:
ayaṁ śāpo yathoddiṣṭo viditaṁ vastathānaghāḥ। tasya śāpasya mokṣārthaṁ mantrayitvā yatāmahe ॥1-33-3॥
This curse, as declared, is known to you, O sinless ones. We shall endeavor for the liberation from that curse after consulting.
sarveṣāmeva śāpānāṃ pratighāto hi vidyate। na tu mātrābhiśaptānāṃ mokṣo vidyeta pannagāḥ ॥1-33-4॥
There is a remedy for all curses, but not for those cursed by their mothers, O serpents.
avyayasyāprameyasya satyasya ca tathāgrataḥ। śaptā ityeva me śrutvā jāyate hṛdi vepathuḥ ॥1-33-5॥
Hearing that I am cursed in front of the immutable, immeasurable truth, trembling arises in my heart.
nūnaṃ sarvavināśo'yamasmākaṃ samudāhṛtaḥ। na hyenāṃ so'vyayo devaḥ śpantīṃ pratyaṣedhayat ॥1-33-6॥
Indeed, it is declared that this is our total destruction, for the imperishable god did not stop her from cursing.
tasmātsanmantrayāmo'tra bhujagānāmanāmayam। yathā bhavet sarveṣāṃ mā naḥ kālo'tyagādayam ॥1-33-7॥
Therefore, let us deliberate here for the welfare of the serpents, so that time does not pass us by.
api mantrayamāṇā hi hetuṃ paśyāma mokṣaṇe। yathā naṣṭaṃ purā devā gūḍhamagniṃ guhāgatam ॥1-33-8॥
Indeed, while deliberating, we perceive the reason for liberation, just as the gods once discovered the hidden fire that was lost and had gone into a cave.
yathā sa yajño na bhavedyathā vāpi parābhavet। janamejayasya sarpāṇāṃ vināśakaraṇāya hi ॥1-33-9॥
The sacrifice, intended for the destruction of Janamejaya's serpents, either does not occur or is defeated.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tathetyuktvā tu te sarve kādraveyāḥ samāgatāḥ। samayaṃ cakrire tatra mantrabuddhiviśāradāḥ ॥1-33-10॥
Thus, having spoken, all the descendants of Kadrava gathered there and made an agreement, being wise in counsel.
eke tatrābruvannāgā vayaṃ bhūtvā dvijarṣabhāḥ| janamejayaṃ taṃ bhikṣāmo yajñaste na bhavediti ॥1-33-11॥
Some serpents there proposed, "Let us transform into the best of the twice-born and beg Janamejaya so that his sacrifice does not occur."
apare tvabruvannāgāstatra paṇḍitamāninaḥ। mantriṇo'sya vayaṃ sarve bhaviṣyāmaḥ susammatāḥ ॥1-33-12॥
The other serpents, considering themselves wise, said that they would all become his highly esteemed ministers.
sa naḥ prakṣyati sarveṣu kāryeṣvarthaviniścayam। tatra buddhiṃ pravakṣyāmo yathā yajño nivartate ॥1-33-13॥
He will inquire from us about the determination of purpose in all actions. There, we shall explain the wisdom as the ritual comes to an end.
sa no bahumatān rājā buddhvā buddhimatāṃ varaḥ। yajñārthaṃ prakṣyati vyaktaṃ neti vakṣyāmahe vayam ॥1-33-14॥
The respected king, known for his wisdom, will inquire clearly for the purpose of the sacrifice, and we shall respond accordingly, saying no.
darśayanto bahūndoṣānpretya ceha ca dāruṇān। hetubhiḥ kāraṇaiścaiva yathā yajño bhavenna saḥ ॥1-33-15॥
They show many faults, both in this life and after death, with terrible reasons and causes, ensuring that the sacrifice does not occur.
athavā ya upādhyāyaḥ kratau tasminbhaviṣyati। sarpasatravidhānajño rājakāryahite rataḥ ॥1-33-16॥
Alternatively, the teacher who will be present in that sacrifice is knowledgeable in snake sacrifice rituals and is dedicated to the benefit of the king's duties.
taṁ gatvā daśatāṁ kaścidbhujagaḥ sa mariṣyati. tasminhate yajñakare kratuḥ sa na bhaviṣyati ॥1-33-17॥
After going there, a certain serpent will bite him, and he will die. If the sacrificer is killed, the sacrifice will not take place.
ye cānye sarpasatrajñā bhaviṣyantyasya ṛtvijaḥ। tāṃśca sarvāndaśiṣyāmaḥ kṛtamevaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥1-33-18॥
Those who are knowledgeable about the snake sacrifice and will serve as priests, we will kill them all; thus it shall be accomplished.
tatrāpare'mantrayanta dharmātmāno bhujaṅgamāḥ। abuddhireṣā yuṣmākaṃ brahmahatyā na śobhanā ॥1-33-19॥
There, the righteous serpents among them consulted and said, "This act of yours is foolish; killing a Brahmin is not a commendable deed."
samyaksaddharmamūlā hi vyasane śāntiruttamā. adharmottaratā nāma kṛtsnaṃ vyāpādayejjagat ॥1-33-20॥
Indeed, peace that is rooted in the correct and true dharma is supreme in times of adversity. Unrighteousness, known as excess, can destroy the entire world.
apare tvabruvannāgāḥ samiddhaṃ jātavedasam। varṣairnirvāpayiṣyāmo meghā bhūtvā savidyutaḥ ॥1-33-21॥
The serpents, on the other hand, declared that they would transform into clouds with lightning and rain to put out the blazing fire.
srugbhāṇḍaṃ niśi gatvā vā apare bhujagottamāḥ। pramattānāṃ harantvāśu vighna evaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥1-33-22॥
The best of serpents might stealthily take away the sacrificial vessel at night from the careless ones, thus creating an obstacle.
yajñe vā bhujagāstasmiñśataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ| janaṃ daśantu vai sarvamevaṃ trāso bhaviṣyati ॥1-33-23॥
In the sacrifice, serpents by the hundreds and thousands may bite all the people, and thus fear will arise.
athavā saṃskṛtaṃ bhojyaṃ dūṣayantu bhujaṅgamāḥ। svena mūtrapurīṣeṇa sarvabhojyavināśinā ॥1-33-24॥
Alternatively, let the serpents ruin the prepared food with their own waste, destroying all that is edible.
apare tvabruvaṃstatra ṛtvijo'sya bhavāmahe| yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyāmo dīyatāṃ dakṣiṇā iti ॥ vaśyatāṃ ca gato'sau naḥ kariṣyati yathepsitam ॥1-33-25॥
Others there said, "We will become his priests and create an obstacle to the sacrifice. Let the gift be given." He has gone under control and will act as we desire.
apare tvabruvaṃstatra jale prakrīḍitaṃ nṛpam। gṛhamānīya badhnīmaḥ kraturevaṃ bhavenna saḥ ॥1-33-26॥
Others, however, said there, 'The king is playing in the water. Let us bring him home and bind him; thus the sacrifice will not be completed.'
apare tvabruvaṃstatra nāgāḥ sukṛtakāriṇaḥ। daśāmainaṃ pragṛhyāśu kṛtamevaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥ chinnaṃ mūlamanarthānāṃ mṛte tasminbhaviṣyati ॥1-33-27॥
Others, however, said there that the serpents, who are doers of good deeds, will quickly seize this one and his condition will be resolved. The root of troubles will be cut off when he is dead.
eṣā vai naiṣṭhikī buddhiḥ sarveṣāmeva saṁmatā। yathā vā manyase rājanstatkṣipraṁ saṁvidhīyatām ॥1-33-28॥
This is the ultimate decision accepted by everyone. O king, let it be arranged quickly as you deem fit.
ityuktvā samudaikṣanta vāsukiṃ pannageśvaram। vāsukiścāpi sañcintya tānuvāca bhujaṅgamān ॥1-33-29॥
After speaking thus, they gazed at Vasuki, the king of serpents. Vasuki, after contemplating, addressed the serpents.
naiṣā vo naiṣṭhikī buddhirmatā kartuṃ bhujaṅgamāḥ। sarveṣāmeva me buddhiḥ pannagānāṃ na rocate ॥1-33-30॥
This final decision of yours, made by the serpents, does not please me at all.
kiṁ tvatra saṁvidhātavyaṁ bhavatāṁ yadbhavedhitam। anenāhaṁ bhṛśaṁ tapye guṇadoṣau madāśrayau ॥1-33-31॥
What should be done here that would be beneficial for you? I am greatly troubled by this, as both virtue and vice depend on me.
