Then, overcome with anger, the great and radiant son of the sage—though still a boy, yet shining with the brilliance and wisdom of an elder—pronounced a curse upon your father. Swiftly, he touched water, his energy blazing, and, filled with wrath, spoke words directed at your father. “He who placed a dead serpent upon my innocent and venerable father—let the mighty serpent Takṣaka, enraged, burn him up with the fire of his venom!” He continued, “The venomous serpent, fierce in his power, impelled by the force of my words, will, after seven nights, display the might of my austerity—behold!” Having declared this, the sage’s son went to his father’s side, and upon seeing him, reported the curse he had uttered. That tiger among sages then sent your father’s disciple, Gauramukha—a man of virtue and noble qualities—to deliver the message. Calm in spirit, Gauramukha went to the king and told him everything in detail: “You have been cursed by my master’s son—be vigilant, O king! Takṣaka, O great king, will burn you with his fiery power.” Hearing these dreadful words, your father, Janamejaya, became vigilant and fearful of Takṣaka, the foremost of serpents. When the seventh day arrived, a brahmarṣi named Kāśyapa set out to visit the king. At that very time, the serpent lord Takṣaka encountered Kāśyapa on the road. The serpent king quickly addressed Kāśyapa, the swift-moving twice-born, asking, “Where are you hastening, and what do you intend to do?” Kāśyapa replied, “Where the king, best of the Kurus, Parikṣit, is to be burned today by the serpent Takṣaka—I am going there, O twice-born. I go swiftly to relieve him of his fever at once; if I am present, the serpent will not be able to harm him.” Takṣaka said, “Why do you wish to revive him after I have bitten him? I am Takṣaka, O brahmin—behold my wondrous power!” So saying, Takṣaka bit a tree nearby. Instantly, the tree was reduced to ashes by the serpent’s venom. But then, O King, Kāśyapa revived that very tree, restoring it to life. Takṣaka, seeing this, tempted Kāśyapa, saying, “Tell me your desire.” Thus addressed, Kāśyapa answered, “I am going there desiring wealth.” Takṣaka then spoke gently to the great-souled one: “Whatever wealth you seek from the king, take even more than that from me, O sinless one, and turn back.” Thus persuaded by the serpent, Kāśyapa, best of men, accepted the wealth he desired from Takṣaka and turned back from his journey. With the Brahmin departed, Takṣaka, employing cunning, approached your righteous father, the foremost of kings. Though the king was guarded within his palace, Takṣaka burned him with the fire of his venom. Thus your father perished, and you, O tiger among men, were consecrated for victory. O best of kings, all this, as seen and heard, has been fully and terribly recounted to you by us. Upon hearing of this defeat and the king’s fate, O best of men, do now for the sage Utanka what is to be done next. At that very moment, King Janamejaya, destroyer of foes, spoke to all his ministers: “Who told of that wondrous event that happened to the tree, which became a heap of ashes, astonishing to the world? That tree which Kāśyapa revived after Takṣaka had bitten it—surely, by mantras, the poison destroyed, nothing perishes from Kāśyapa.” The wicked-minded, base serpent thought to himself, “If the Brahmin whom I have bitten revives the king, Takṣaka, whose poison is supreme, will become an object of ridicule in the world.” Thus reflecting, he was satisfied with the Brahmin’s decision to turn back. “By some means, I will inflict suffering upon him; but I wish to hear in detail what happened in the lonely forest. Who among those present then heard or saw the conversation between the lord of serpents and Kāśyapa on the way? Having heard it, I will devise a plan for the destruction of the serpents.” Listen, O King, to how it was told to us, how the meeting of the best of Brahmins and the lord of serpents happened on the road. A certain man, O king, had climbed that tree full of dry branches, searching for firewood. Neither Takṣaka nor the twice-born Kāśyapa noticed the man in the tree, and together with him, the tree was reduced to ashes, O king. But by the power of the twice-born, O king, the tree survived; and thus, O best of Brahmins, it was reported to us by a man who came there. All that happened concerning Takṣaka and the Brahmin has been told to you as it was seen and heard. Having heard this, O tiger among kings, act as is fitting next. Hearing the words of his counselors, King Janamejaya was tormented by grief, pressing his hand to his mouth. The lotus-eyed king let out many long, hot sighs, and then, weeping, shed tears from his eyes. The ruler of the earth, overcome with pain and sorrow, released his tears with difficulty, and after touching water as prescribed, spoke. After reflecting for a moment and making up his mind, the king, filled with indignation, addressed all his counselors with these words.