01.046
Library: King Janamejaya decides to take revenge on Takshaka.
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः॥
The ministers spoke:
ततः स राजा राजेन्द्र स्कन्धे तस्य भुजङ्गमम्। मुनेः क्षुत्क्षाम आसज्य स्वपुरं पुनराययौ ॥१-४६-१॥
Then the king, O lord of kings, placed the sage's serpent, which was emaciated by hunger, on his shoulder and returned to his city once more.
ऋषेस्तस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूद्गवि जातो महायशाः। शृङ्गी नाम महातेजास्तिग्मवीर्योऽतिकोपनः ॥१-४६-२॥
The sage's son, Śṛṅgī, was born in a cow and was known for his great energy, sharp prowess, and irritable nature.
ब्रह्माणं सोऽभ्युपागम्य मुनिः पूजां चकार ह। अनुज्ञातो गतस्तत्र शृङ्गी शुश्राव तं तदा ॥ सख्युः सकाशात्पितरं पित्रा ते धर्षितं तथा ॥१-४६-३॥
The sage approached Brahma and performed worship. With permission, Śṛṅgī went there and heard him. From the presence of the friend, your father was insulted by his father.
मृतं सर्पं समासक्तं पित्रा ते जनमेजय। वहन्तं कुरुशार्दूल स्कन्धेनानपकारिणम् ॥१-४६-४॥
O Janamejaya, your father, the best of the Kurus, carried an innocent dead snake on his shoulder.
तपस्विनमतीवाथ तं मुनिप्रवरं नृप। जितेन्द्रियं विशुद्धं च स्थितं कर्मण्यथाद्भुते ॥१-४६-५॥
Then, O king, the ascetic, who was extremely pure and had conquered his senses, stood wonderfully firm in his duties, being the best among sages.
तपसा द्योतितात्मानं स्वेष्वङ्गेषु यतं तथा। शुभाचारं शुभकथं सुस्थिरं तमलोलुपम् ॥१-४६-६॥
Through penance, one achieves an illuminated self, controlling one's own limbs, thus maintaining auspicious conduct and engaging in auspicious stories, remaining firm and free from greed.
अक्षुद्रमनसूयं च वृद्धं मौनव्रते स्थितम्। शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां पित्रा विप्रकृतं तव ॥१-४६-७॥
You, who are not small, without envy, and old, situated in a vow of silence, are the refuge of all beings, wronged by your father.
शशापाथ स तच्छ्रुत्वा पितरं ते रुषान्वितः। ऋषेः पुत्रो महातेजा बालोऽपि स्थविरैर्वरः ॥१-४६-८॥
Then, upon hearing that, the greatly powerful son of the sage, though just a boy, was filled with anger and cursed your father, showing himself to be superior even to the elders.
स क्षिप्रमुदकं स्पृष्ट्वा रोषादिदमुवाच ह। पितरं तेऽभिसन्धाय तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥१-४६-९॥
He quickly touched the water and, with anger, said this, as if blazing with energy, intending your father.
अनागसि गुरौ यो मे मृतं सर्पमवासृजत्। तं नागस्तक्षकः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा सादयिष्यति ॥ सप्तरात्रादितः पापं पश्य मे तपसो बलम् ॥१-४६-१०॥
The innocent teacher who threw my dead snake will be struck by the angry serpent Takshaka with his energy. Witness the power of my penance against sin after seven nights from now.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र पिता यत्रास्य सोऽभवत्। दृष्ट्वा च पितरं तस्मै शापं तं प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥१-४६-११॥
After speaking thus, the father went to the place where he was. Upon seeing his father, he conveyed that curse to him.
स चापि मुनिशार्दूलः प्रेषयामास ते पितुः। शप्तोऽसि मम पुत्रेण यत्तो भव महीपते ॥ तक्षकस्त्वां महाराज तेजसा सादयिष्यति ॥१-४६-१२॥
The sage, like a tiger, sent your father. You have been cursed by my son, so be alert, O king. Takshaka will bring you down with his power, O great king.
श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचो घोरं पिता ते जनमेजय। यत्तोऽभवत्परित्रस्तस्तक्षकात्पन्नगोत्तमात् ॥१-४६-१३॥
Upon hearing those dreadful words, your father Janamejaya became alert and was terrified of Takshaka, the supreme serpent.
ततस्तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे सप्तमे समुपस्थिते। राज्ञः समीपं ब्रह्मर्षिः काश्यपो गन्तुमैच्छत ॥१-४६-१४॥
On the seventh day, when the time had come, the sage Kashyapa wished to visit the king.
तं ददर्शाथ नागेन्द्रः काश्यपं तक्षकस्तदा। तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं त्वरितं व्रजन् ॥१-४६-१५॥
Then, the serpent king Takshaka saw Kashyapa and said to him, 'Kashyapa, go quickly.'
क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥१-४६-१५॥
Where are you rushing to and what task do you plan to accomplish?
काश्यप उवाच॥
Kashyapa spoke:
यत्र राजा कुरुश्रेष्ठः परिक्षिन्नाम वै द्विज। तक्षकेण भुजङ्गेन धक्ष्यते किल तत्र वै ॥१-४६-१६॥
O Brahmin, it is said that there, the king Parikshit, the best of the Kurus, will indeed be bitten by the serpent Takshaka.
गच्छाम्यहं तं त्वरितः सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम्। मयाभिपन्नं तं चापि न सर्पो धर्षयिष्यति ॥१-४६-१७॥
I am going quickly to provide immediate relief. The snake will not harm him whom I have approached.
तक्षक उवाच॥
Takshaka spoke:
किमर्थं तं मया दष्टं सञ्जीवयितुमिच्छसि। ब्रूहि काममहं तेऽद्य दद्मि स्वं वेश्म गम्यताम् ॥१-४६-१८॥
Why do you wish to revive him whom I have bitten? Tell me your desire, and I will grant it to you today; now go to your own house.
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः॥
The ministers spoke:
धनलिप्सुरहं तत्र यामीत्युक्तश्च तेन सः। तमुवाच महात्मानं मानयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥१-४६-१९॥
Desiring wealth, he said, 'I will go there.' He spoke to the great soul, honoring him with gentle words.
यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे तस्माद्राज्ञस्ततोऽधिकम्। गृहाण मत्त एव त्वं संनिवर्तस्व चानघ ॥१-४६-२०॥
Take as much wealth as you desire from the king, but take even more from me and return, O sinless one.
स एवमुक्तो नागेन काश्यपो द्विपदां वरः। लब्ध्वा वित्तं निववृते तक्षकाद्यावदीप्सितम् ॥१-४६-२१॥
Kashyapa, the best among bipeds, was addressed by the serpent and, having obtained the desired wealth, returned from Takshaka.
तस्मिन्प्रतिगते विप्रे छद्मनोपेत्य तक्षकः। तं नृपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठ पितरं धार्मिकं तव ॥१-४६-२२॥
When the Brahmin returned, Takshaka, in disguise, approached your righteous father, the king, O best of kings.
प्रासादस्थं यत्तमपि दग्धवान्विषवह्निना। ततस्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र विजयायाभिषेचितः ॥१-४६-२३॥
In the palace, even that was consumed by the poison-fire. Thereafter, you, the tiger among men, were anointed for victory.
एतद्दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि यथावन्नृपसत्तम। अस्माभिर्निखिलं सर्वं कथितं ते सुदारुणम् ॥१-४६-२४॥
O best of kings, we have seen and heard all of this as it is, and have recounted everything to you, which is very terrible.
श्रुत्वा चैतं नृपश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्य पराभवम्। अस्य चर्षेरुत्तङ्कस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥१-४६-२५॥
Upon hearing this, O esteemed king, regarding the defeat of the prince and the sage Uttanka, please take the necessary actions that follow.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
एतत्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि अटव्यां निर्जने वने। संवादं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य काश्यपस्य च यत्तदा ॥१-४६-२६॥
I wish to hear the conversation that took place between the serpent king and Kashyapa in the desolate forest.
केन दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि भवतां श्रोत्रमागतम्। श्रुत्वा चाथ विधास्यामि पन्नगान्तकरीं मतिम् ॥१-४६-२७॥
Who saw and heard it, and how did it reach your ears? After hearing it, I will then decide on a plan to end the serpents.
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः॥
The ministers spoke:
शृणु राजन्यथास्माकं येनैतत्कथितं पुरा। समागमं द्विजेन्द्रस्य पन्नगेन्द्रस्य चाध्वनि ॥१-४६-२८॥
Listen, O king, to how our meeting with the best of Brahmins and the king of serpents on the road was narrated in the past.
तस्मिन्वृक्षे नरः कश्चिदिन्धनार्थाय पार्थिव। विचिन्वन्पूर्वमारूढः शुष्कशाखं वनस्पतिम् ॥१-४६-२९॥
In that tree, a certain man climbed up the dry branch searching for firewood, O king.
अबुध्यमानौ तं तत्र वृक्षस्थं पन्नगद्विजौ ॥१-४६-२९॥
The serpent-bird, dwelling in the tree, was not aware of him being there.
स तु तेनैव वृक्षेण भस्मीभूतोऽभवत्तदा। द्विजप्रभावाद्राजेन्द्र जीवितः सवनस्पतिः ॥१-४६-३०॥
However, O King, by the influence of the Brahmin, the tree was revived and became alive after being turned to ashes by that very tree.
तेन गत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ नगरेऽस्मिन्निवेदितम्। यथावृत्तं तु तत्सर्वं तक्षकस्य द्विजस्य च ॥१-४६-३१॥
O best of kings, having gone to this city, he informed everything as it happened, regarding Takshaka and the Brahmin.
एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम्। श्रुत्वा तु नृपशार्दूल प्रकुरुष्व यथेप्सितम् ॥१-४६-३२॥
This has been narrated to you, O king, exactly as it happened and as it was heard. Now, having listened, O distinguished king, act according to your wishes.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
मन्त्रिणां तु वचः श्रुत्वा स राजा जनमेजयः। पर्यतप्यत दुःखार्तः प्रत्यपिंषत्करे करम् ॥१-४६-३३॥
Upon hearing the ministers' words, King Janamejaya was overwhelmed with sorrow and clasped his hands together in distress.
निःश्वासमुष्णमसकृद्दीर्घं राजीवलोचनः। मुमोचाश्रूणि च तदा नेत्राभ्यां प्रततं नृपः ॥ उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥१-४६-३४॥
The lotus-eyed king, overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, repeatedly sighed deeply and shed tears continuously from his eyes. Then, the ruler of the earth spoke.
श्रुत्वैतद्भवतां वाक्यं पितुर्मे स्वर्गतिं प्रति। निश्चितेयं मम मतिर्या वै तां मे निबोधत ॥१-४६-३५॥
Upon hearing these words of yours about my father's journey to heaven, this is my firm decision, indeed, understand it.
अनन्तरमहं मन्ये तक्षकाय दुरात्मने। प्रतिकर्तव्यमित्येव येन मे हिंसितः पिता ॥१-४६-३६॥
Afterwards, I believe that it is necessary to retaliate against the wicked Takshaka who harmed my father.
ऋषेर्हि शृङ्गेर्वचनं कृत्वा दग्ध्वा च पार्थिवम्। यदि गच्छेदसौ पापो ननु जीवेत्पिता मम ॥१-४६-३७॥
Indeed, if the sinner follows the words of sage Śṛṅga and burns the king, surely my father would survive.
परिहीयेत किं तस्य यदि जीवेत्स पार्थिवः। काश्यपस्य प्रसादेन मन्त्रिणां सुनयेन च ॥१-४६-३८॥
What harm would there be to him if the king continues to live, supported by the grace of Kashyapa and the wise counsel of his ministers?
स तु वारितवान्मोहात्काश्यपं द्विजसत्तमम्। सञ्जिजीवयिषुं प्राप्तं राजानमपराजितम् ॥१-४६-३९॥
However, in his delusion, he stopped Kashyapa, the eminent sage, who had come with the intention to revive the undefeated king.
महानतिक्रमो ह्येष तक्षकस्य दुरात्मनः। द्विजस्य योऽददद्द्रव्यं मा नृपं जीवयेदिति ॥१-४६-४०॥
This is indeed a great transgression by Takshaka, the wicked soul, who bribed the Brahmin to ensure that the king would not be revived.
उत्तङ्कस्य प्रियं कुर्वन्नात्मनश्च महत्प्रियम्। भवतां चैव सर्वेषां यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः ॥१-४६-४१॥
I will do what pleases Uttanka and is greatly pleasing to myself and indeed to all of you, and I shall go to pay respects to my father.
