तं च द्विषन्ति सततं स चापि बलवत्तरः। वरप्रदानात्स पितुः कश्यपस्य महात्मनः
They always hate him, yet he is the strongest of all, having received a boon from his father, the great-souled Kashyapa.
सोऽहं तपः समास्थाय मोक्ष्यामीदं कलेवरम्। कथं मे प्रेत्यभावेऽपि न तैः स्यात्सह सङ्गमः
Therefore, I shall undertake austerities and cast off this body; how can I ensure that, even after death, I will not have to associate with them?
तमेवं वादिनं शेषं पितामह उवाच ह। जानामि शेष सर्वेषां भ्रातॄणां ते विचेष्टितम्
As Shesha spoke thus, the Grandsire addressed him: 'I know, Shesha, all that your brothers have done.'
मातुश्चाप्यपराधाद्वै भ्रातॄणां ते महद्भयम्। कृतोऽत्र परिहारश्च पूर्वमेव भुजङ्गम
'Because of your mother's offense, your brothers are in great danger; but, O serpent, a remedy has already been arranged here beforehand.'
भ्रातॄणां तव सर्वेषां न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि। वृणीष्व च वरं मत्तः शेष यत्तेऽभिकाङ्क्षितम्
'You should not grieve for any of your brothers; and now, Shesha, ask a boon of me—whatever you desire.'
दास्यामि हि वरं तेऽद्य प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि। दिष्ट्या बुद्धिश्च ते धर्मे निविष्टा पन्नगोत्तम। भूयो भूयश्च ते बुद्धिर्धर्मे भवतु सुस्थिरा
'I shall grant you a boon today, for my affection for you is supreme; by fortune, your mind is established in righteousness, O best of serpents. May your mind remain ever steadfast in righteousness.'
एष एव वरो देव काङ्क्षितो मे पितामह। धर्मे मे रमतां बुद्धिः शमे तपसि चेश्वर
'This is the very boon I desire, O Lord, O Grandsire: may my mind delight in righteousness, in tranquility, and in austerity.'
प्रीतोऽस्म्यनेन ते शेष दमेन च शमेन च। त्वया त्विदं वचः कार्यं मन्नियोगात्प्रजाहितम्
'I am pleased by your self-restraint and tranquility, Shesha. Now, by my command, you must perform an act for the welfare of the world.'
इमां महीं शैलवनोपपन्नां ससागरग्रामविहारपत्तनाम् त्वं शेष सम्यक् चलितां यथाव- त्संगृह्य तिष्ठस्व यथाऽचला स्यात्
'This earth, adorned with mountains and forests, with seas, villages, pleasure-grounds, and cities—O Shesha, support it well, holding it firmly so that it may remain unmoving.'
यथाऽऽह देवो वरदः प्रजापति- र्महीपतिर्भूतपतिर्जगत्पतिः। तथा महीं धारयिताऽस्मि निश्चलां प्रयच्छतां मे विवरं प्रजापते
'Just as the boon-giving Lord, the Prajapati, the king of the earth, the lord of beings, the lord of the world, has said, so shall I uphold the earth immovably, if the Prajapati grants me a dwelling place.'
अधो महीं गच्छ भुजङ्गमोत्तम स्वयं तवैषा विवरं प्रदास्यति। इमां धरां धारयता त्वया हि मे महत्प्रियं शेष कृतं भविष्यति
'Descend beneath the earth, O best of serpents; she herself will give you a place. By supporting this earth, Shesha, you will do me a great favor.'
तथैव कृत्वा विवरं प्रविश्य स प्रभुर्भुवो भुजगवराग्रजः स्थितः। बिभर्ति देवीं शिरसा महीमिमां समुद्रनेमिं परिगृह्य सर्वतः
Thus, having made an opening, he entered and, as lord of the earth and eldest of the noble serpents, remained there, supporting this goddess earth upon his head, encircling her completely with his coils.
शेषोऽसि नागोत्तम धर्मदेवो महीमिमां धारयसे यदेकः। अनन्तभोगैः परिगृह्य सर्वां यथाहमेवं बलभिद्यथा वा
'You are Shesha, best of serpents, god of righteousness, for you alone uphold this earth, encircling her entirely with your endless coils, just as I do, or even with greater strength.'
अधो भूमौ वसत्येवं नागोऽनन्तः प्रतापवान्। धास्यन्वसुधामेकः शासनाद्ब्रह्मणो विभोः
Thus, the mighty Ananta dwells beneath the earth, supporting the world alone, by the command of the glorious Brahma.
सुपर्णं च सहायं वै भगवानमरोत्तमः। प्रादादनन्ताय तदा वैनतेयं पितामहः
Then the blessed Grandsire gave Ananta the divine Suparna, the best of immortals, Garuda, as his companion.
अनन्तेऽभिप्रयाते तु वासुकिः स महाबलः। अभ्यषिच्यत नागैस्तु दैवतैरिव वासवः
When Ananta had departed, Vasuki, of great strength, was anointed king by the serpents, just as the gods anointed Indra.
मातुः सकाशात्तं शापं श्रुत्वा वै पन्नगोत्तमः। वासुकिश्चिन्तयामास शापोऽयं न भवेत्कथम्
Hearing the curse from his mother, Vasuki, the best of serpents, began to ponder how that curse might not take effect.
ततः स मन्त्रयामास भ्रातृभिः सह सर्वशः। ऐरावतप्रभृतिभिः सर्वैर्धर्मपरायणैः
Then he consulted with all his brothers, including Airavata and the rest, who were all devoted to righteousness.
अयं शापो यथोद्दिष्टो विदितं वस्तथाऽनघाः। तस्य शापस्य मोक्षार्थं मन्त्रयित्वा यतामहे
This curse has been pronounced as described, and you know it, O blameless ones. We strive, consulting together, for the release from this curse.
सर्वेषामेव शापानां प्रतिघातो हि विद्यते। न तु मात्राऽभिशप्तानां मोक्षः क्वचन विद्यते
There is indeed a counteraction for all curses; but for those cursed by their mother, release is nowhere to be found.
अव्ययस्याप्रमेयस्य सत्यस्य च तथाग्रतः। शप्ता इत्येव मे श्रुत्वा जायते हृदि वेपथुः
Having heard that even the eternal, immeasurable, and truthful ones have been cursed, trembling arises in my heart.
नूनं सर्वविनाशोऽयमस्माकं समुपागतः। `शापः सृष्टो महाघोरो मात्रा खल्वविनीतया। न ह्येतां सोऽव्ययो देवः शपत्नीं प्रत्यषेधयत्
Surely, total destruction has come upon us; a terrible curse has been cast by our unruly mother. For even the eternal god did not restrain her from cursing.
तस्मात्संमन्त्रयामोऽद्य भुजङ्गानामनामयम्। यथा भवेद्धि सर्वेषां मा नः कालोऽत्यगादयम्
Therefore, let us today consult for the welfare of the serpents, so that all may be well and time may not pass us by.
सर्व एव हि नस्तावद्बुद्धिमन्तो विचक्षणाः। अपि मन्त्रयमाणा हि हेतुं पश्याम मोक्षणे
All of us are intelligent and discerning; even as we deliberate, let us seek a means for release.
यथा नष्टं पुरा देवा गूढमग्निं गुहागतम्। यथा स यज्ञो न भवेद्यथा वाऽपि पराभवः। जनमेजयस्य सर्पाणां विनाशकरणाय वै
Just as the gods once lost the hidden fire concealed in the cave, so the sacrifice may not occur, or defeat may happen, for Janamejaya, to bring about the destruction of the serpents.
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः सर्वे काद्रवेयाः समागताः। समयं चकिरे तत्र मन्त्रबुद्धिविशारदाः
Having said 'so be it,' all the descendants of Kadru assembled there, and made an agreement, skilled in counsel and wisdom.
एके तत्राब्रुवन्नागा वयं भूत्वा द्विजर्षभाः। जनमेजयं तु भिक्षामो यज्ञस्ते न भवेदिति
Some serpents there said, 'Let us become eminent Brahmins and beg Janamejaya so that his sacrifice may not take place.'
अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागास्तत्र पण्डितमानिनः। मन्त्रिणोऽस्य वयं सर्वे भविष्यामः सुसंमताः
Others, considering themselves wise, said, 'We shall all become his counselors, well-accepted.'
स नः प्रक्ष्यति सर्वेषु कार्येष्वर्थविनिश्चयम्। तत्र बुद्धिं प्रदास्यामो यथा यज्ञो निवर्त्स्यति
He will ask us for a decision in all matters; there we shall give advice so that the sacrifice will be stopped.
स नो बहुमतान्राजा बुद्ध्या बुद्धिमतां वरः। यज्ञार्थं प्रक्ष्यति व्यक्तं नेति वक्ष्यामहे वयम्
That king, who values us highly and is foremost among the wise, will ask us openly about the sacrifice; we shall say 'no.'