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.'
दर्शयन्तो बहून्दोषान्प्रेत्य चेह च दारुणान्। हेतुभिः कारणैश्चैव यथा यज्ञो भवेन्न सः
Pointing out many severe faults, both here and after death, with reasons and causes, we shall ensure that the sacrifice does not happen.
अथवा य उपाध्यायः क्रतोस्तस्य भविष्यति। सर्पसत्रविधानज्ञो राजकार्यहिते रतः
Or, if there is a teacher who will conduct the sacrifice, skilled in serpent-sacrifice rites and devoted to the king's welfare,
तं गत्वा दशतां कश्चिद्भुजङ्गः स मरिष्यति। तस्मिन्मृते यज्ञकारे क्रतुः स न भविष्यति
Let one serpent go and bite him; that serpent will die, and with his death, the sacrifice will not be performed.
ये चान्ये सर्पसत्रज्ञा भविष्यन्त्यस्य चर्त्विजः। तांश्च सर्वान्दशिष्यामः कृतमेवं भविष्यति
And any others who are knowledgeable in serpent-sacrifice and will serve as priests, we shall bite them all; thus it will be accomplished.
अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागा धर्मात्मानो दयालवः। अबुद्धिरेषा भवतां ब्रह्महत्या न शोभनम्
Others, virtuous and compassionate serpents, said, 'This is ignorance among you; killing Brahmins is not proper.'
सम्यक्सद्धर्ममूला वै व्यसने शान्तिरुत्तमा। अधर्मोत्तरता नाम कृत्स्नं व्यापादयेज्जगत्
Indeed, the highest peace in adversity is rooted in true dharma; acting contrary to dharma would destroy the whole world.
अपरे त्वब्रुवन्नागाः समिद्धं जातवेदसम्। वर्षैर्निर्वापयिष्यामो मेघा भूत्वा सविद्युतः
Others among the serpents said: We will extinguish the blazing sacrificial fire by becoming clouds with lightning and pouring rain upon it.
स्रुग्भाण्डं निशि गत्वा च अपरे भुजगोत्तमाः। प्रमत्तानां हरन्त्वाशु विघ्न एवं भविष्यति
Some other distinguished serpents said: By going at night to the vessels and ladles, we will swiftly steal them while the people are careless; thus, the sacrifice will be obstructed.
यज्ञे वा भुजगास्तस्मिञ्शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। जनान्दशन्तु वै सर्वे नैवं त्रासो भविष्यति
Or, during the sacrifice, let the serpents bite the people by the hundreds and thousands; then there will be no fear for us.
अथवा संस्कृतं भोज्यं दूषयन्तु भुजङ्गमाः। स्वेन मूत्रपुरीषेण सर्वभोज्यविनाशिना
Alternatively, let the serpents defile the prepared food with their own urine and excrement, destroying all the offerings.