01.040
Library: Parikshit dies by Takshaka’s bite. Janamejaya is installed as king. Marries Vapushtama.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
taṃ tathā mantriṇo dṛṣṭvā bhogena pariveṣṭitam। vivarṇavadanāḥ sarve rurudurbhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ ॥1-40-1॥
Seeing him thus surrounded by enjoyment, all the ministers, pale-faced, cried out in great distress.
taṁ tu nādaṁ tataḥ śrutvā mantriṇaste pradudruvuḥ। apaśyaṁścaiva te yāntamākāśe nāgamadbhutam ॥1-40-2॥
Upon hearing that sound, the ministers fled in fear. They saw a magnificent serpent moving through the sky.
sīmantamiva kurvāṇaṃ nabhasaḥ padmavarcasam। takṣakaṃ pannagaśreṣṭhaṃ bhṛśaṃ śokaparāyaṇāḥ ॥1-40-3॥
Takshaka, the foremost of serpents, was creating a parting in the sky with his lotus-like radiance, deeply absorbed in sorrow.
tatastu te tadgṛhamagninā vṛtaṃ; pradīpyamānaṃ viṣajena bhoginaḥ| bhayātparityajya diśaḥ prapedire; papāta taccāśanitāḍitaṃ yathā ॥1-40-4॥
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.
tato nṛpe takṣakatejasā hate; prayujya sarvāḥ paralokasatkriyāḥ. śucirdvijo rājapurohitastadā; tathaiva te tasya nṛpasya mantriṇaḥ ॥1-40-5॥
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.
nṛpaṃ śiśuṃ tasya sutaṃ pracakrire; sametya sarve puravāsino janāḥ| nṛpaṃ yamāhustamamitraghātinaṃ; kurupravīraṃ janamejayaṃ janāḥ ॥1-40-6॥
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.
sa bāla evāryamatirnṛpottamaḥ; sahaiva tairmantripurohitastadā. śaśāsa rājyaṃ kurupuṅgavāgrajo; yathāsya vīraḥ prapitāmahastathā ॥1-40-7॥
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.
tatastu rājānamamitratāpanaṃ; samīkṣya te tasya nṛpasya mantriṇaḥ| suvarṇavarmāṇamupetya kāśipaṃ; vapuṣṭamārthaṃ varayāṃ pracakramuḥ ॥1-40-8॥
Then, the ministers of the king, known as the enemy-tormentor, observed him and approached Suvarnavarman of Kaship to choose an excellent form.
tataḥ sa rājā pradadau vapuṣṭamāṃ; kurupravīrāya parīkṣya dharmataḥ| sa cāpi tāṃ prāpya mudā yuto'bhavat; na cānyanārīṣu mano dadhe kvacit ॥1-40-9॥
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.
saraḥsu phulleṣu vaneṣu caiva ha; prasannacetā vijahāra vīryavān. tathā sa rājanyavaro vijahrivā; nyathorvaśīṃ prāpya purā purūravāḥ ॥1-40-10॥
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.
vapuṣṭamā cāpi varaṃ patiṃ tadā; pratītarūpaṃ samavāpya bhūmipam। bhāvena rāmā ramayāṃ babhūva vai; vihārakāleṣvarodhasundarī ॥1-40-11॥
Then, the beautiful lady, having obtained the excellent husband, the king, Rama, was indeed pleased with him during their leisure times.
