The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 1.53: tripañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.53.1

sūta uvāca |
idamatyadbhutaṃ cānyadāstīkasyānuśuśrumaḥ |
tathā varaiśchandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena ha || 1 ||

(Astika Parva, continued)

"Sauti said, 'Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connection with Astika. When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by granting the boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off Indra's hands, remained in mid air without actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious, for Takshaka, afflicted with fear, did not at once fall into the fire although libations were poured in proper form into the blazing sacrificial Agni in his name.'

"Saunaka said, 'Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas were not potent; since Takshaka did not fall into the fire?'

"Sauti replied, 'Unto the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, after he had been cast off Indra's hands, Astika had thrice said, 'Stay,' 'Stay,' 'Stay.' And he succeeded in staying in the skies, with afflicted heart, like a person somehow staying between the welkin and the earth.

"The king then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, 'Let it be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, O Suta, thy words also be true.' When the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits expressive of joy rang through the air. Thus the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit--that king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, and on all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds and thousands. And unto Suta Lohitaksha--conversant with the rules of building and foundations--who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desire, and became very much pleased. Then he concluded his sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, and after treating him with every respect, the king in joy sent home the wise Astika exceedingly gratified, for he had attained his object. And the king said unto him, 'Thou must come again to become a Sadasya in my great Horse-sacrifice.' And Astika said, 'yes' and then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. And returning in joy to his uncle and mother and touching their feet, he recounted to them everything as it had happened.'

"Sauti continued, 'Hearing all he had said, the snakes that had come thither became very much delighted, and their fears were allayed. They were much pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, 'O learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much gratified, having been all saved by thee. What shall we accomplish for thee, O child!'

"Astika said, 'Let those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the morning or in the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred account of this my act, have no fear from any of you.' And the snakes in joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the nature of thy boon, let it be exactly as thou sayest. That which thou askest we all shall cheerfully do, O nephew! And those also that call to mind Astika, Artiman and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, 'I call to mind the famous Astika born of Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice. Therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it behoveth you not to bite me.

[paragraph continues] But go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away thou snake of virulent poison, and remember the words of Astika after the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya. That snake who does not cease from biting after hearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa tree.'

"Sauti continued, 'That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. And the high-souled one then set his heart upon going away.

"And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.

'Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of snakes'

'Sauti continued, 'O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, as thy ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated unto his inquiring son Ruru, and as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the beginning, of the learned Astika. And, O Brahmana, O oppressor of all enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue, and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied.'"

"Sauti said, 'Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connection with Astika. When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by granting the boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off Indra's hands, remained in mid air without actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious, for Takshaka, afflicted with fear, did not at once fall into the fire although libations were poured in proper form into the blazing sacrificial Agni in his name.'

1.53.2

indrahastāccyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yadatiṣṭhata |
tataścintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ || 2 ||

1.53.3

hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīpte vidhivatpāvake tadā |
na sma sa prāpatadvahnau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ || 3 ||

1.53.4

śaunaka uvāca |
kiṃ sūta teṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām |
na pratyabhāttadāgnau yanna papāta sa takṣakaḥ || 4 ||

"Saunaka said, 'Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas were not potent; since Takshaka did not fall into the fire?'

1.53.5

sūta uvāca |
tamindrahastādvisrastaṃ visaṃjñaṃ pannagottamam |
āstīkastiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vācastisro'bhyudairayat || 5 ||

"Sauti replied, 'Unto the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, after he had been cast off Indra's hands, Astika had thrice said, 'Stay,' 'Stay,' 'Stay.' And he succeeded in staying in the skies, with afflicted heart, like a person somehow staying between the welkin and the earth.

1.53.6

vitasthe so'ntarikṣe'tha hṛdayena vidūyatā |
yathā tiṣṭheta vai kaścidgocakrasyāntarā naraḥ || 6 ||

1.53.7

tato rājābravīdvākyaṃ sadasyaiścodito bhṛśam |
kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam || 7 ||

"The king then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, 'Let it be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, O Suta, thy words also be true.' When the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits expressive of joy rang through the air. Thus the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit--that king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, and on all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds and thousands. And unto Suta Lohitaksha--conversant with the rules of building and foundations--who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desire, and became very much pleased. Then he concluded his sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, and after treating him with every respect, the king in joy sent home the wise Astika exceedingly gratified, for he had attained his object. And the king said unto him, 'Thou must come again to become a Sadasya in my great Horse-sacrifice.' And Astika said, 'yes' and then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. And returning in joy to his uncle and mother and touching their feet, he recounted to them everything as it had happened.'

1.53.8

samāpyatāmidaṃ karma pannagāḥ santvanāmayāḥ |
prīyatāmayamāstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco'stu tat || 8 ||

1.53.9

tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītijaḥ samavartata |
āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca || 9 ||

1.53.10

sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha |
prītimāṃścābhavadrājā bhārato janamejayaḥ || 10 ||

1.53.11

ṛtvigbhyaḥ sasadasyebhyo ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ |
tebhyaśca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ || 11 ||

1.53.12

lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ |
yenoktaṃ tatra satrāgre yajñasya vinivartanam || 12 ||

1.53.13

nimittaṃ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṃ dadau bahu |
tataścakārāvabhṛthaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā || 13 ||

1.53.14

āstīkaṃ preṣayāmāsa gṛhāneva susatkṛtam |
rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam || 14 ||

1.53.15

punarāgamanaṃ kāryamiti cainaṃ vaco'bravīt |
bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau || 15 ||

1.53.16

tathetyuktvā pradudrāva sa cāstīko mudā yutaḥ |
kṛtvā svakāryamatulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam || 16 ||

1.53.17

sa gatvā paramaprīto mātaraṃ mātulaṃ ca tam |
abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat || 17 ||

1.53.18

etacchrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā ye tatrāsanpannagā vītamohāḥ |
te''stīke vai prītimanto babhūvurūcuścainaṃ varamiṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva || 18 ||

"Sauti continued, 'Hearing all he had said, the snakes that had come thither became very much delighted, and their fears were allayed. They were much pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, 'O learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much gratified, having been all saved by thee. What shall we accomplish for thee, O child!'

1.53.19

bhūyo bhūyaḥ sarvaśaste'bruvaṃstaṃ kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmo'dya vidvan |
prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāścaiva sarve kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmo'dya vatsa || 19 ||

1.53.20

āstīka uvāca |
sāyaṃ prātaḥ suprasannātmarūpā loke viprā mānavāścetare'pi |
dharmākhyānaṃ ye vadeyurmamedaṃ teṣāṃ yuṣmadbhyo naiva kiṃcidbhayaṃ syāt || 20 ||

"Astika said, 'Let those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the morning or in the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred account of this my act, have no fear from any of you.' And the snakes in joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the nature of thy boon, let it be exactly as thou sayest. That which thou askest we all shall cheerfully do, O nephew! And those also that call to mind Astika, Artiman and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, 'I call to mind the famous Astika born of Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice. Therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it behoveth you not to bite me.

1.53.21

sūta uvāca |
taiścāpyukto bhāgineyaḥ prasannairetatsatyaṃ kāmamevaṃ carantaḥ |
prītyā yuktā īpsitaṃ sarvaśaste kartāraḥ sma pravaṇā bhāgineya || 21 ||

1.53.22

jaratkārorjaratkārvāṃ samutpanno mahāyaśāḥ |
āstīkaḥ satyasaṃdho māṃ pannagebhyo'bhirakṣatu || 22 ||

1.53.23

asitaṃ cārtimantaṃ ca sunīthaṃ cāpi yaḥ smaret |
divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṃ bhavet || 23 ||

[paragraph continues] But go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away thou snake of virulent poison, and remember the words of Astika after the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya. That snake who does not cease from biting after hearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa tree.'

"Sauti continued, 'That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. And the high-souled one then set his heart upon going away.

1.53.24

sūta uvāca |
mokṣayitvā sa bhujagānsarpasatrāddvijottamaḥ |
jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān || 24 ||

"And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.

1.53.25

ityākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvatkīrtitaṃ tava |
yatkīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit || 25 ||

'Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of snakes'

1.53.26

śrutvā dharmiṣṭhamākhyānamāstīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam |
āstīkasya kavervipra śrīmaccaritamāditaḥ || 26 ||

'Sauti continued, 'O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, as thy ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated unto his inquiring son Ruru, and as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the beginning, of the learned Astika. And, O Brahmana, O oppressor of all enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue, and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied.'"

1.53.27

śaunaka uvāca |
bhṛguvaṃśātprabhṛtyeva tvayā me kathitaṃ mahat |
ākhyānamakhilaṃ tāta saute prīto'smi tena te || 27 ||

"Saunaka said, 'O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and great history commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu. O son of Suta, I have been much gratified with thee. I ask thee again, to recite to me, O son of a Suta, the history composed by Vyasa. The varied and wonderful narrations that were recited amongst those illustrious Sadasyas assembled at the sacrifice, in the intervals of their duties of that long-extending ceremony, and the objects also of those narrations, I desire to hear from thee, O son of a Suta! Recite therefore, all those to me fully.'

(Adivansavatarana Parva)

"Saunaka said, 'O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and great history commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu. O son of Suta, I have been much gratified with thee. I ask thee again, to recite to me, O son of a Suta, the history composed by Vyasa. The varied and wonderful narrations that were recited amongst those illustrious Sadasyas assembled at the sacrifice, in the intervals of their duties of that long-extending ceremony, and the objects also of those narrations, I desire to hear from thee, O son of a Suta! Recite therefore, all those to me fully.'

'Sauti said, 'The Brahmanas, in the intervals of the duties, spoke of many things founded upon the Vedas. But Vyasa recited the wonderful and great history called the Bharata.'

"Saunaka said, 'That sacred history called the Mahabharata, spreading the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna-Dwaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited after the completion of the sacrifice. I desire to hear duly. That history hath been born of the ocean-like mind of the great Rishi of soul purified by yoga. Thou foremost of good men, recite it unto me, for, O son of a Suta, my thirst hath not been appeased by all thou hast said.'

'Sauti said, 'I shall recite to thee from the beginning of that great and excellent history called the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa. O Brahmana, listen to it in full, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it.'"

1.53.28

prakṣyāmi caiva bhūyastvāṃ yathāvatsūtanandana |
yāṃ kathāṃ vyāsasaṃpannāṃ tāṃ ca bhūyaḥ pracakṣva me || 28 ||

1.53.29

tasminparamaduṣprāpe sarpasatre mahātmanām |
karmāntareṣu vidhivatsadasyānāṃ mahākave || 29 ||

1.53.30

yā babhūvuḥ kathāścitrā yeṣvartheṣu yathātatham |
tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṃ saute tvaṃ vai vicakṣaṇaḥ || 30 ||

1.53.31

sūta uvāca |
karmāntareṣvakathayandvijā vedāśrayāḥ kathāḥ |
vyāsastvakathayannityamākhyānaṃ bhārataṃ mahat || 31 ||

'Sauti said, 'The Brahmanas, in the intervals of the duties, spoke of many things founded upon the Vedas. But Vyasa recited the wonderful and great history called the Bharata.'

1.53.32

śaunaka uvāca |
mahābhāratamākhyānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaskaram |
janamejayena yatpṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā || 32 ||

"Saunaka said, 'That sacred history called the Mahabharata, spreading the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna-Dwaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited after the completion of the sacrifice. I desire to hear duly. That history hath been born of the ocean-like mind of the great Rishi of soul purified by yoga. Thou foremost of good men, recite it unto me, for, O son of a Suta, my thirst hath not been appeased by all thou hast said.'

1.53.33

śrāvayāmāsa vidhivattadā karmāntareṣu saḥ |
tāmahaṃ vidhivatpuṇyāṃ śrotumicchāmi vai kathām || 33 ||

1.53.34

manaḥsāgarasaṃbhūtāṃ maharṣeḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ |
kathayasva satāṃ śreṣṭha na hi tṛpyāmi sūtaja || 34 ||

1.53.35

sūta uvāca |
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi mahadākhyānamuttamam |
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanamataṃ mahābhāratamāditaḥ || 35 ||

'Sauti said, 'I shall recite to thee from the beginning of that great and excellent history called the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa. O Brahmana, listen to it in full, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it.'"

1.53.36

tajjuṣasvottamamate kathyamānaṃ mayā dvija |
śaṃsituṃ tanmanoharṣo mamāpīha pravartate || 36 ||