01.048
Library: Names of the officiating priests; Takshaka takes shelter with Indra; Vasuki pleads with his sister Jaratkaru to send Āstika.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke:
sarpasatre tadā rājñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya dhīmataḥ। janamejayasya ke tvāsannṛtvijaḥ paramarṣayaḥ ॥1-48-1॥
During the snake sacrifice of the wise King Janamejaya, the descendant of Pandu, who were the priests present? They were the great sages.
ke sadasyā babhūvuśca sarpasatre sudāruṇe। viṣādajanane'tyarthaṃ pannagānāṃ mahābhaye ॥1-48-2॥
Who were the members of the very dreadful serpent sacrifice that caused immense distress and fear among the serpents?
sarvaṃ vistaratastāta bhavāñśaṃsitumarhati। sarpasatravidhānajñā vijñeyāste hi sūtaja ॥1-48-3॥
Dear son of Sūta, you should narrate everything in detail, as they are indeed recognized as experts in the rituals of the snake sacrifice.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi nāmānīha manīṣiṇām| ye ṛtvijaḥ sadasyāśca tasyāsannṛpatestadā ॥1-48-4॥
Behold, I will now tell you the names of the wise individuals who were the priests and members of the king's assembly at that time.
tatra hotā babhūvātha brāhmaṇaścaṇḍabhārgavaḥ। cyavanasyānvaye jātaḥ khyāto vedavidāṃ varaḥ ॥1-48-5॥
There, then, the priest Caṇḍabhārgava, a Brahmin, was born in the lineage of Cyavana, known as the best among the knowers of Vedas.
udgātā brāhmaṇo vṛddho vidvānkautsāryajaiminiḥ। brahmābhavacchārṅgaravo adhvaryurbodhipiṅgalaḥ ॥1-48-6॥
The wise and elderly priest Kautsārya Jaimini was the chanter, and he became Brahma; Shārṅgarava served as the priest Bodhipiṅgala.
sadasyaścābhavadyāsaḥ putraśiṣyasahāyavān. uddālakaḥ śamaṭhakaḥ śvetaketuśca pañcamaḥ ॥1-48-7॥
Vyasa became a member with the help of his son and disciple. Uddalaka, Shamathaka, and Shvetaketu were the fifth members.
asito devalaścaiva nāradaḥ parvatastathā। ātreyaḥ kuṇḍajaṭharo dvijaḥ kuṭighaṭastathā ॥1-48-8॥
Asita, Devala, Nārada, Parvata, Ātreya, Kuṇḍajaṭhara, Dvija, and Kuṭighaṭa are all present.
vātsyaḥ śrutaśravā vṛddhastapaḥsvādhyāyaśīlavān| kahoḍo devaśarmā ca maudgalyaḥ śamasaubharaḥ ॥1-48-9॥
Vātsyaḥ, Śrutaśravā, who is old and dedicated to penance and study, along with Kahoḍaḥ, Devaśarmā, Maudgalyaḥ, and Śamasaubharaḥ.
ete cānye ca bahavo brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ। sadasyā abhavaṃstatra satre pārīkṣitasya ha ॥1-48-10॥
These and many other Brahmins, who were firm in their vows, indeed became members of the assembly of Parikshit.
juhvatsvṛtvikṣvatha tadā sarpasatre mahākratau। ahayaḥ prāpataṃstatra ghorāḥ prāṇibhayāvahāḥ ॥1-48-11॥
During the great serpent sacrifice, when the offerings were being made by the priests, the serpents fell there, causing great fear among all living beings due to their terrifying nature.
vasāmedovahāḥ kulyā nāgānāṃ sampravartitāḥ। vavau gandhaśca tumulo dahyatāmaniśaṃ tadā ॥1-48-12॥
Streams carrying the fat and marrow of serpents began to flow, and an intense smell constantly blew from those burning at that time.
patatāṃ caiva nāgānāṃ dhiṣṭhitānāṃ tathāmbare| aśrūyatāniśaṃ śabdaḥ pacyatāṃ cāgninā bhṛśam ॥1-48-13॥
The sound of elephants falling from the sky was constantly heard, and they were being intensely burned by fire.
takṣakastu sa nāgendraḥ puraṃdaraniveśanam। gataḥ śrutvaiva rājānaṃ dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam ॥1-48-14॥
Takshaka, the serpent king, went to the abode of Indra upon hearing that King Janamejaya had been consecrated.
tataḥ sarvaṃ yathāvṛttamākhyāya bhujagottamaḥ| agacchaccharaṇaṃ bhīta āgaskṛtvā puraṃdaram ॥1-48-15॥
Then, the best of serpents, fearful after committing an offense, narrated everything as it happened and sought refuge with Indra.
tam indraḥ prāha suprīto na tavāstīha takṣaka। bhayaṃ nāgendra tasmād vai sarpasatrāt kathañcana ॥1-48-16॥
Indra, being pleased, said to Takshaka: "O lord of serpents, you have nothing to fear here from the serpent sacrifice."
prasādito mayā pūrvaṃ tavārthāya pitāmahaḥ। tasmāttava bhayaṃ nāsti vyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ ॥1-48-17॥
I have already pleased the grandfather on your behalf. Therefore, you have no reason to fear; let your mental anguish be relieved.
evam āśvāsitas tena tataḥ sa bhujagottamaḥ। uvāsa bhavane tatra śakrasya muditaḥ sukhī ॥1-48-18॥
Thus reassured by him, the eminent serpent then resided happily and joyfully in Indra's abode.
ajasraṃ nipatatsvagnau nāgeṣu bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ। alpaśeṣaparīvāro vāsukiḥ paryatapyata ॥1-48-19॥
Vasuki, greatly distressed and with few family members left, was continuously falling into his own fire among the serpents, feeling tormented.
kaśmalaṃ cāviśad ghoraṃ vāsukiṃ pannageśvaram। sa ghūrṇamānahṛdayo bhaginīmidam abravīt ॥1-48-20॥
Vasuki, the lord of serpents, was overcome with confusion and terror. With a troubled heart, he spoke to his sister.
dahyante'ṅgāni me bhadre diśo na pratibhānti ca। sīdāmīva ca saṃmohādghūrṇatīva ca me manaḥ ॥1-48-21॥
O gentle lady, my limbs are burning, and I cannot perceive the directions. It feels as if I am sinking into confusion, and my mind is whirling.
dṛṣṭir bhramati me'tīva hṛdayaṃ dīryatīva ca। patiṣyāmy avaśo'dyāhaṃ tasmin dīpte vibhāvasau ॥1-48-22॥
My sight wanders excessively, and my heart feels as if it is splitting. Today, I feel helpless and as if I shall fall into that blazing fire.
pārikṣitasya yajño'sau vartate'smajjighāṁsayā। vyaktaṁ mayāpi gantavyaṁ pitṛrājaniveśanam ॥1-48-23॥
The sacrifice of Parikshit is being conducted with the intention to harm us. Clearly, I too must proceed to the abode of the king of the ancestors.
ayaṁ sa kālaḥ samprāpto yadarthamasi me svasaḥ। jaratkāroḥ purā dattā sā trāhyasmānsabāndhavān ॥1-48-24॥
This is the time that has come for which you were given as my sister to Jaratkāru. Please protect us and our relatives.
āstīkaḥ kila yajñaṃ taṃ vartantaṃ bhujagottame। pratiṣetsyati māṃ pūrvaṃ svayamāha pitāmahaḥ ॥1-48-25॥
Grandfather himself said before that Āstīka would indeed stop that ongoing sacrifice, O best of serpents.
tadvatse brūhi vatsaṃ svaṃ kumāraṃ vṛddhasaṃmatam। mamādya tvaṃ sabhṛtyasya mokṣārthaṃ vedavittamam ॥1-48-26॥
O dear one, tell me about your own child, the prince who is respected by elders. Today, you, along with your servants, are the best knower of Vedas for the purpose of liberation.
