After the momentous events at the serpent sacrifice, King Janamejaya, whose prowess was immeasurable, bestowed generous gifts upon the Brahmin who had been the cause of the serpents’ salvation. He gave wealth, food, and clothing, all as was proper and befitting the occasion. Pleased and grateful, the king then performed the concluding ritual bath, marking the completion of the sacrifice according to tradition. With his mind content and satisfied, Janamejaya sent Āstīka, the wise and accomplished Brahmin, back to his home. Before Āstīka departed, the king spoke warmly to him: “You must return again; you shall be a participant in my great horse sacrifice.” Āstīka, having achieved his unparalleled task and pleased the king, replied, “So be it,” and departed joyfully. Filled with delight, Āstīka made his way to his maternal uncle and mother. He approached them, embraced them tenderly, and recounted all that had transpired. Hearing his tale, all the assembled serpents, freed from delusion and danger, were pleased with Āstīka and said to him, “Choose a boon as you wish.” Again and again, the serpents implored him: “O wise one, what shall we do for you today that is pleasing? We are delighted and all have been freed; tell us, dear child, what we may do for you today.” Āstīka asked that those Brahmins and pure-minded men—and indeed all people—who recite his account of righteousness, morning and evening, should have no fear from serpents. The delighted serpents granted this boon, saying, “So be it, this boon is granted to you in truth. Out of affection, we are ready to do whatever you desire, O nephew.” Furthermore, they declared: “Whoever remembers Asita, Ārtimant, and Sunītha, whether by day or by night, shall have no fear of serpents. O serpents, he who was born of Jaratkāru and the mighty Jaratkāru, Āstīka, who protected you at the serpent sacrifice—remembering him, O blessed ones, you must not harm me. O serpent, withdraw, blessings to you; go away, great venomous one. At the end of Janamejaya’s sacrifice, remember the words of Āstīka.” They warned, “Any serpent who, after hearing the words of Āstīka, does not turn back, his head will split into a hundred pieces like the fruit of the Śiṃśapā tree.” Having received great satisfaction from the assembled foremost serpents, Āstīka, the best of the twice-born, set his mind on departing. The king of the nāgas, after speaking thus among the serpents, returned to his own abode with his followers. Having freed the serpents from the sacrifice, the righteous-souled Brahmin Āstīka eventually departed from this world, surrounded by sons and grandsons. Thus ends the story of Āstīka, as it happened; by reciting it, there is nowhere any fear from serpents. Just as your ancestor Pramati told this tale to his son Ruru when asked, so have I related it to you, O best of Bhārgavas. What I have heard, I have told accordingly—the glorious story of Āstīka, the sage, from the beginning, O Brahmin. That which you have asked, having heard the words of Dundubha, let your great curiosity be dispelled, O subduer of enemies. Having heard the righteous tale of Āstīka, which increases merit, one becomes freed from all sin and attains long life. Saunaka then spoke: “From the lineage of Bhrigu onward, you have recounted to me the great narrative; O Sauti, I am pleased by your telling. I shall further question you, O son of Suta, as is proper; those stories composed by Vyasa, please narrate them to me again. In that exceedingly difficult snake-sacrifice of the great souls, among the rituals and the members of the assembly, whatever wondrous stories arose there, according to their subjects, we wish to hear from you, O Sauti; please recount them to us.” Among the rituals, the twice-born recited stories based on the Vedas; but Vyasa narrated the wondrous, great tale of the Bharata. The narrative of the Mahabharata, which brings fame to the Pandavas, was then recounted by Krishna Dvaipayana when questioned by Janamejaya. He made it heard properly at that time during the rituals; Saunaka declared, “I wish to hear that auspicious tale in the proper manner. Born from the ocean of the mind of the great sage of purified soul, narrate this story, O best among the virtuous, which is filled with all gems.” Sauti replied: “Indeed, I shall narrate to you the great and excellent story, the Mahabharata, as taught by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the beginning. Hear everything in its entirety as I narrate, O twice-born; great joy arises in me here to proclaim it.” After Janamejaya was consecrated for the snake-sacrifice, the learned sage Krishna Dvaipayana approached him. Kali had borne him from Parashara, son of Shakti, as a maiden on the island of Yamuna; he is the grandsire of the Pandavas. As soon as he was born, through sacrifice he grew his body; he mastered the Vedas and their branches, and the histories, becoming greatly renowned. No one attained his stature by austerity, nor by study of the Vedas, nor by vows or fasts, nor by birth, nor by anger. He, the foremost among knowers of the Veda, divided the single Veda into four; knower of the higher and lower, a Brahmarshi, a poet, truthful and pure. He begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, extending the lineage of Shantanu, of virtuous fame and great renown. That great-souled sage entered the assembly of King Janamejaya, accompanied by his disciples, who were masters of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas. There he saw King Janamejaya seated, surrounded by many members of the assembly, like Indra among the gods.