As the great serpent sacrifice drew to its climax, King Janamejaya, his mind fixed upon vengeance, addressed his priests and attendants with urgency: “As this ritual nears completion and as Takshaka hastens here, let all of you strive with utmost effort, for he is my enemy.” The assembled Brahmins and sages, recalling the ancient scriptures and the testimony of the sacrificial fire, informed the king, “O King, Takshaka, tormented by fear, has taken refuge in the abode of Indra.” A wise charioteer, his eyes red and his soul vast, one well-versed in the old tales, spoke up, recounting what the Brahmins had long declared. Drawing from the sacred tradition, he revealed, “Indra once granted Takshaka a boon: ‘Stay here with me, well protected; fire will not burn you.’” Thus reassured, Takshaka remained in Indra’s celestial protection, and Indra, freed from fear by the serpents, departed from the assembly. Yet Janamejaya, firm in his resolve, pondered deeply: “It will happen.” Meanwhile, a serpent hidden within an upper garment, restless and distressed, found no peace. Angered and intent on Takshaka’s destruction, the king, skilled in mantras, declared, “If Takshaka is in Indra’s abode, O Brahmins, then let him be cast down together with Indra by the fire.” However, Takshaka had not been specifically summoned by name. To address this, the Hotri priest offered the sacred oblations, invoking Takshaka directly. As the offerings were poured, Takshaka, accompanied by Purandara, the mighty Indra himself, appeared in the sky, both greatly agitated by the sacrifice’s power. Upon witnessing the fierce ritual, Indra entered the sacrificial flames with Takshaka, but soon abandoned the terrified serpent and returned to his own celestial realm. Now left unprotected, Takshaka, overwhelmed by fear and confusion, was helplessly drawn by the power of the king’s mantra toward the blazing fire. The officiating priests, witnessing this moment, proclaimed, “O King, Takshaka is coming swiftly under your control—hear his fearsome, terrible roar as he cries out.” The priests further declared, “The wielder of the thunderbolt has abandoned this serpent; cast down from the heavens, terrified by the mantra, Takshaka reels in the sky, his senses lost, breathing heavily in distress.” Seeing the ritual proceeding properly, the priests reminded the king, “Now you should grant a boon to this foremost of Brahmins.” Janamejaya, turning to the young and radiant Astika, said, “Ask for whatever you desire from your heart, and if it is within my power, I shall grant it.” At that very moment, as Takshaka was about to fall into the sacrificial fire, Astika intervened, his voice clear and resolute: “If you would grant me a boon, O Janamejaya, I choose this: let your sacrifice cease, and let no more serpents fall here.” Though his heart was not pleased, the son of Parikshit replied, “Gold, silver, cows, or whatever else you desire, O illustrious one, I shall give you as a boon, but do not ask that my sacrifice be stopped.” Yet Astika, steadfast in his purpose, answered, “Gold, silver, cows—I do not ask these from you, O king. Let your sacrifice cease—may there be well-being for my mother’s lineage.” Janamejaya entreated him again and again, “Choose another boon, O best of the twice-born,” but Astika, son of Bhrigu, would accept nothing else. Then, all the learned Vedic scholars present spoke in unison to the king: “Let the Brahmin obtain his boon.” With the sacrifice thus halted, the king’s curiosity was not yet satisfied. He turned to Sauti, the learned storyteller: “Of the serpents who fell into the sacrificial fire at this serpent-sacrifice, I wish to hear the names of them all, O son of Suta.” Sauti replied, “Thousands, tens of thousands, and crores perished here; their numbers are too great to recount in full, O best of Brahmins. Yet, listen as I recite the names of the principal serpents who were offered into the fire. “First, hear the names of the noble-born serpents of Vasuki’s line—dark, red, white, fierce, massive, and brimming with venom: Shala, Pala, Halimaka, Picchala, Manasa, and countless others, all helpless, tormented by their mothers’ words and the king’s rod, summoned to the flames. Among them were Picchala, Kaunapa, Chakra, Kalavega, Prakalana, Hiranyabahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, and Kaladantaka. All these serpents of Vasuki’s line entered the sacrificial fire, along with many others of fierce form and great might. “Now hear the names of those born in Takshaka’s line: Pucchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasekta, Rabhenaka, Ucchikha, Sharabha, Bhanga, Bilvateja, Virohana, Shili, Shalakar, Muka, Sukumara, and Pravepana. Also, Mudgara, Shishuroma, Suroma, and Mahahanu—all these serpents of Takshaka’s line entered the sacrificial fire. “From the line of Airavata, these perished in the flames: Paravata, Pariyatra, Pandara, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabha, Moda, Pramoda, and Samhatapana. “In the Kauravya line, hear the names: Eraka, Kundala, Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Shringabera, Dhurtaka, and Pratarataka—all entered the fire. “From the Dhritarashtra line, I will name those renowned, swift as the wind and filled with venom: Shankukarna, Pitharaka, Kutharamukhasechaka, Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Shakuni, Dari, Amahattha, Kamathaka, Sushena, Manasa, and Avyaya. “Thus, O Brahmin, many noble and mighty serpents from these great lineages were offered into the blazing sacrificial fire, their names remembered in the tradition of the wise.