01.047
Library: Snake sacrifice starts with black dressed, red eyed officiating priests and snakes start dying because of their mother's curse.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
evamuktvā tataḥ śrīmānmantribhiścānumoditaḥ। āruroha pratijñāṃ sa sarpasatrāya pārthivaḥ ॥ brahmanbharataśārdūlo rājā pārikṣitastadā ॥1-47-1॥
Thus, having spoken, the illustrious King Parikshit, approved by his ministers, ascended to undertake the vow for the snake sacrifice, O Brahman, as the tiger among the Bharatas.
purohitam atha āhūya ṛtvijaṃ vasudhādhipaḥ। abravīd vākyasampannaḥ sampadarthakaraṃ vacaḥ ॥1-47-2॥
Then the king called the priest and spoke eloquently, delivering words that would bring prosperity.
yo me hiṃsitavāṃstātaṃ takṣakaḥ sa durātmavān। pratikuryāṃ yathā tasya tadbhavanto bruvantu me ॥1-47-3॥
Please tell me how I should retaliate against that wicked Takshaka who harmed my father.
api tatkarma viditaṃ bhavatāṃ yena pannagam। takṣakaṃ sampradīpte'gnau prāpsye'haṃ sahabāndhavam ॥1-47-4॥
Is that action known to you by which I will obtain the serpent Takshaka in the blazing fire along with my relatives?
yathā tena pitā mahyaṃ pūrvaṃ dagdho viṣāgninā| tathāhamapi taṃ pāpaṃ dagdhumicchāmi pannagam ॥1-47-5॥
Just as my father was once burned by poison-fire by him, I too wish to burn that sinful serpent.
ṛtvija ūcuḥ॥
The priests spoke:
asti rājanmahatsatraṃ tvadarthaṃ devanirmitam। sarpasatramiti khyātaṃ purāṇe kathyate nṛpa ॥1-47-6॥
O King, there exists a grand sacrifice made for you by the gods, known as the snake sacrifice, which is mentioned in the Puranas.
āhartā tasya satrasya tvannānyo'sti narādhipaḥ। iti paurāṇikāḥ prāhurasmākaṃ cāsti sa kratuḥ ॥1-47-7॥
The Puranic scholars declared that you, O king, are the sole performer of that sacrifice, and indeed, that sacrifice belongs to us.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
evamuktaḥ sa rājarṣirmene sarpaṃ hi takṣakam। hutāśanamukhaṃ dīptaṃ praviṣṭamiti sattama ॥1-47-8॥
Upon hearing this, the royal sage believed that the serpent Takshaka had entered the blazing fire, O noble one.
tato'bravīn mantravidastān rājā brāhmaṇāṃs tadā। āhariṣyāmi tatsatraṃ sambhārāḥ sambhriyantu me ॥1-47-9॥
Then the king addressed the Brahmins, who were experts in mantras, saying that he would organize the sacrifice and instructed them to prepare the necessary materials.
tataste ṛtvijastasya śāstrato dvijasattama। deśaṃ taṃ māpayāmāsuryajñāyatanakāraṇāt ॥ yathāvajjñānaviduṣaḥ sarve buddhyā paraṃ gatāḥ ॥1-47-10॥
Then, O best of the twice-born, the priests measured the place according to the scriptures for the sacrificial ground. All the wise ones, with their intelligence, properly attained the supreme knowledge.
ṛddhyā paramayā yuktamiṣṭaṃ dvijagaṇāyutam। prabhūtadhanadhānyāḍhyamṛtvigbhiḥ suniveśitam ॥1-47-11॥
The place was endowed with supreme prosperity, desired by many, and filled with groups of Brahmins. It was rich in abundant wealth and grains, and was well-organized with the presence of priests.
nirmāya cāpi vidhivadyajñāyatanamīpsitam। rājānaṃ dīkṣayāmāsuḥ sarpasatrāptaye tadā ॥1-47-12॥
Then, having constructed the desired sacrificial place according to the rules, they initiated the king for the completion of the serpent sacrifice.
idaṃ cāsīttatra pūrvaṃ sarpasatre bhaviṣyati. nimittaṃ mahadutpannaṃ yajñavighnakaraṃ tadā ॥1-47-13॥
This event had occurred before during the serpent sacrifice. A great omen arose at that time, which obstructed the sacrifice.
yajñasya-āyatane tasmin kriyamāṇe vaco'bravīt। sthapatir-buddhi-sampanno vāstu-vidyā-viśāradaḥ ॥1-47-14॥
In the place where the sacrifice was being performed, the architect, endowed with wisdom and expert in architecture, spoke words.
ity abravīt sūtradhāraḥ sūtaḥ paurāṇikas tadā। yasmin deśe ca kāle ca māpaneyaṃ pravartitā ॥ brāhmaṇaṃ kāraṇaṃ kṛtvā nāyaṃ saṃsthāsyate kratuḥ ॥1-47-15॥
The director, who was also the charioteer and narrator of ancient tales, then said: In whichever country and time this measurement was initiated, having made the Brahmin the reason, this sacrifice will not be established.
etacchrutvā tu rājā sa prāgdīkṣākālamabravīt. kṣattāraṃ neha me kaścidajñātaḥ praviśediti ॥1-47-16॥
Upon hearing this, the king instructed the minister before the initiation ceremony, "Ensure that no unknown person enters here."
tataḥ karma pravavṛte sarpasatre vidhānataḥ। paryakrāmaṃśca vidhivatsve sve karmaṇi yājakāḥ ॥1-47-17॥
Then, according to the rules, the ritual commenced in the serpent sacrifice. The priests moved around properly, attending to their respective duties.
paridhāya kṛṣṇavāsāṃsi dhūmasaṃraktalocanāḥ। juhuvurmantravaccaiva samiddhaṃ jātavedasam ॥1-47-18॥
Wearing black clothes and with eyes reddened by smoke, they performed offerings to the kindled fire with the recitation of mantras.
kampayantaśca sarveṣāmuragāṇāṃ manāṃsi te. sarpānājuhuvustatra sarvānagniṃukhe tadā ॥1-47-19॥
They disturbed the minds of all the serpents, and then offered them all into the fire.
tataḥ sarpāḥ samāpetuḥ pradīpte havyavāhane। viveṣṭamānāḥ kṛpaṇā āhvayantaḥ parasparam ॥1-47-20॥
Then the serpents, in their misery, approached the blazing fire, writhing and calling out to one another.
visphurantaḥ śvasantaśca veṣṭayantastathā pare। pucchaiḥ śirobhiśca bhṛśaṃ citrabhānuṃ prapedire ॥1-47-21॥
Trembling, panting, and writhing, others with their tails and heads greatly approached Chitrabhanu.
śvetāḥ kṛṣṇāśca nīlāśca sthavirāḥ śiśavastathā। ruvanto bhairavānnādānpeturdīpte vibhāvasau ॥1-47-22॥
The white, black, and blue ones, both the old and the children, crying out terrifying sounds, fell into the blazing fire.
evaṃ śatasahasrāṇi prayutānyarbudāni ca। avaśāni vinaṣṭāni pannagānāṃ dvijottama ॥1-47-23॥
O best of the twice-born, countless helpless serpents were destroyed.
indurā iva tatrānye hastihastā ivāpare। mattā iva ca mātaṅgā mahākāyā mahābalāḥ ॥1-47-24॥
There are others like the moon, some with hands like elephants, intoxicated like elephants, possessing great bodies and immense strength.
uccāvacāśca bahavo nānāvarṇā viṣolbaṇāḥ। ghorāśca parighaprakhyā dandaśūkā mahābalāḥ ॥ prapeturagnāvuragā mātṛvāgdaṇḍapīḍitāḥ ॥1-47-25॥
High and low, many serpents of various colors, poisonous and terrible, resembling iron bars, very powerful, fell into the fire, tormented by the punishment of the mother's words.
