01.040
Library: Parikshit dies by Takshaka’s bite. Janamejaya is installed as king. Marries Vapushtama.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
तं तथा मन्त्रिणो दृष्ट्वा भोगेन परिवेष्टितम्। विवर्णवदनाः सर्वे रुरुदुर्भृशदुःखिताः ॥१-४०-१॥
Seeing him thus surrounded by enjoyment, all the ministers, pale-faced, cried out in great distress.
तं तु नादं ततः श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणस्ते प्रदुद्रुवुः। अपश्यंश्चैव ते यान्तमाकाशे नागमद्भुतम् ॥१-४०-२॥
Upon hearing that sound, the ministers fled in fear. They saw a magnificent serpent moving through the sky.
सीमन्तमिव कुर्वाणं नभसः पद्मवर्चसम्। तक्षकं पन्नगश्रेष्ठं भृशं शोकपरायणाः ॥१-४०-३॥
Takshaka, the foremost of serpents, was creating a parting in the sky with his lotus-like radiance, deeply absorbed in sorrow.
ततस्तु ते तद्गृहमग्निना वृतं; प्रदीप्यमानं विषजेन भोगिनः। भयात्परित्यज्य दिशः प्रपेदिरे; पपात तच्चाशनिताडितं यथा ॥१-४०-४॥
Then, they fled in fear, abandoning all directions, as the house surrounded by fire and burning with the serpent's poison fell, struck as if by lightning.
ततो नृपे तक्षकतेजसा हते; प्रयुज्य सर्वाः परलोकसत्क्रियाः। शुचिर्द्विजो राजपुरोहितस्तदा; तथैव ते तस्य नृपस्य मन्त्रिणः ॥१-४०-५॥
Then, when the king was killed by the power of Takshaka, all the funeral rites were performed. The pure brahmin, who was the royal priest, and the ministers of the king, similarly conducted the rites.
नृपं शिशुं तस्य सुतं प्रचक्रिरे; समेत्य सर्वे पुरवासिनो जनाः। नृपं यमाहुस्तममित्रघातिनं; कुरुप्रवीरं जनमेजयं जनाः ॥१-४०-६॥
The city dwellers gathered and declared his son, the child, as the king. They referred to him as Janamejaya, the heroic Kuru king and slayer of enemies.
स बाल एवार्यमतिर्नृपोत्तमः; सहैव तैर्मन्त्रिपुरोहितैस्तदा। शशास राज्यं कुरुपुङ्गवाग्रजो; यथास्य वीरः प्रपितामहस्तथा ॥१-४०-७॥
The young and noble-minded king, the best among rulers, governed the kingdom with his ministers and priests, just as his heroic great-grandfather did.
ततस्तु राजानममित्रतापनं; समीक्ष्य ते तस्य नृपस्य मन्त्रिणः। सुवर्णवर्माणमुपेत्य काशिपं; वपुष्टमार्थं वरयां प्रचक्रमुः ॥१-४०-८॥
Then, the ministers of the king, known as the enemy-tormentor, observed him and approached Suvarnavarman of Kaship to choose an excellent form.
ततः स राजा प्रददौ वपुष्टमां; कुरुप्रवीराय परीक्ष्य धर्मतः। स चापि तां प्राप्य मुदा युतोऽभव; न चान्यनारीषु मनो दधे क्वचित् ॥१-४०-९॥
Then the king, after righteously examining, gave the most beautiful one to the hero of the Kurus. He, having obtained her, was filled with joy and did not desire any other women.
सरःसु फुल्लेषु वनेषु चैव ह; प्रसन्नचेता विजहार वीर्यवान्। तथा स राजन्यवरो विजह्रिवा; न्यथोर्वशीं प्राप्य पुरा पुरूरवाः ॥१-४०-१०॥
In the lakes and blooming forests, with a clear mind, the powerful one enjoyed. Thus, he, the best of the royals, enjoyed like Purūravas did when he obtained Urvaśī in the past.
वपुष्टमा चापि वरं पतिं तदा; प्रतीतरूपं समवाप्य भूमिपम्। भावेन रामा रमयां बभूव वै; विहारकालेष्ववरोधसुन्दरी ॥१-४०-११॥
Then, the beautiful lady, having obtained the excellent husband, the king, Rama, was indeed pleased with him during their leisure times.
