Astika, filled with compassion and wisdom, stood before King Parikshita as the serpent sacrifice raged on. The king, ready to grant him any reward—gold, silver, or cows—was met with Astika’s firm refusal. “I seek none of these from you, O king,” said Astika. “Let your sacrifice come to an end; may there be well-being for my mother’s lineage.” His words were resolute, carrying the weight of his purpose. King Parikshita, moved by Astika’s eloquence and virtue, entreated him again and again, “Choose another boon, O best of Brahmins, O virtuous one!” But Astika, the noble son of the Bhrigu line, would not be swayed. He asked for nothing else. At this, all the learned Vedic scholars assembled at the sacrifice spoke as one to the king: “Let the Brahmin receive his boon.” Their voices, united in righteousness, counseled the king to honor Astika’s request. Now, Sauti, the storyteller, was asked by his listeners, “Tell us, O son of Suta, the names of those serpents who fell into the sacrificial fire at this great serpent sacrifice.” Sauti replied, “Their numbers were vast—thousands, tens of thousands, even crores perished here. It is not possible to recount them all, O best of Brahmins, so numerous were they.” “Yet, listen as I recite the names of the principal serpents, as they are remembered, who were offered into the flames. Hear first of the noble-born serpents of Vasuki’s line—dark, red, white, fierce, massive, and brimming with venom. Helpless and tormented by their mothers’ words and the rod, these pitiable serpents were summoned: Shala, Pala, Halimaka, Picchala, Manasa, and countless others. Among them were Picchala, Kaunapa, Chakra, Kalavega, Prakalana, Hiranyabahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, and Kaladantaka. All these, born of Vasuki’s family, 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, Pravepana, Mudgara, Shishuroma, Suroma, and Mahahanu. These serpents too, of Takshaka’s mighty line, entered the flames. “Then there were Paravata, Pariyatra, Pandara, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabha, Moda, Pramoda, and Samhatapana—serpents of the Airavata line—who also perished in the sacrifice. Listen now to the serpents of the Kauravya line: Eraka, Kundala, Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Shringabera, Dhurtaka, and Pratarataka. All these, too, entered the fire. “Next, I will name those of the Dhritarashtra line—renowned and swift as the wind, filled with venom: Shankukarna, Pitharaka, Kutharamukhasechaka, Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Shakuni, Dari, Amahattha, Kamathaka, Sushena, Manasa, Avyaya, Ashtavakra, Komalaka, Shvasana, Maunavepaga, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pishanga, Udaparaka, Rishabha, Vegavan, Pindaraka, Mahahanu, Raktanga, Sarvasaranga, Samriddhapatavasa, Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, Citravegika, Parashara, Tarunaka, Mani, Skandha, and Aruni—serpents who increased the fame of their race. “But, O Brahmin, because of their great number, not all can be named here. These are the principal ones, along with their offspring and descendants. The rest—some with two heads, some with five, seven, ten, a hundred, and many with countless heads—entered the blazing fire, their numbers beyond reckoning. They were terrible beings, like the fires of destruction and deadly poison, offered by the hundreds of thousands—great in size, swift in force, towering like mountain peaks. Their bodies stretched a yojana in length and two yojanas in breadth; they could assume forms at will, possessed strength as they wished, and blazed with fierce fire and venom. All these were burned at the great sacrifice, struck down by the rod of Brahma.” Sauti then recounted another wondrous tale about Astika. When King Parikshita was granting boons as he pleased, a serpent—Takshaka himself—was slipping from Indra’s hand, suspended in the sky, neither fallen nor free. King Janamejaya, performing the sacrifice with great fervor and proper rites, became filled with anxious thought, for Takshaka, gripped by fear, did not fall into the fire. O Sauti, what was the reason, among all those wise Brahmins and their powerful mantras, that Takshaka did not fall into the fire at that time? Astika then called out three times to the best of serpents, who was terrified and senseless as he hung from Indra’s hand: “Stop! Stop! Stop!” Takshaka remained suspended in the air, his heart torn with distress, like a man poised between earth and sky. Then, urged strongly by the assembly, King Janamejaya spoke: “Let it be as Astika has said. Let this rite be completed; let the serpents be comforted; let Astika be pleased; let the Suta’s words be fulfilled.” At that moment, a great sound of joy, like a tumult, arose when Astika’s boon was granted, and the sacrifice ceased at once. Thus ended the great serpent sacrifice of King Parikshita, and King Janamejaya of the Bharatas was filled with joy. To the priests, the assembly, and all who had gathered, he gave wealth in hundreds and thousands. To the red-eyed Suta and to the architect, the mighty king gave gifts, for they had spoken before about ending the serpent sacrifice.