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.
अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र ऋत्विजोऽस्य भवामहे। यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यामो दक्षिणा दीयतामिति
Others said there: Let us become the officiating priests for him; we will create an obstacle to the sacrifice, and demand the sacrificial gifts.
वश्यतां च गतोऽसौ नः करिष्यति यथेप्सितम्। अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र जले प्रक्रीडितं नृपम्
He has come under our control and will do as we wish; others said there: Let us bring the king from the water where he plays.
गृहमानीय बध्नीमः क्रतुरेवं भवेन्न सः। अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र नागाः पण्डितमानिनः
Let us bring him to the house and bind him; thus, the sacrifice will not occur.
दशामस्तं प्रगृह्याशु कृतपेवं भविष्यति। छिन्नं मूलमनर्थानां मृते तस्मिन्भविष्यति
Other serpents there, who considered themselves wise, said: Let us quickly seize him and bite him; thus, the root of our troubles will be cut off when he dies.
एषा नो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिः सर्वेषामीक्षणश्रवः। अथ यन्मन्यसे राजन्द्रुतं तत्संविधीयताम्
This is our final decision, after considering and hearing all; now, O king, whatever you think should be done, let it be arranged swiftly.
इत्युक्त्वा समुदैक्षन्त वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। वासुकिश्चापि संचिन्त्य तानुवाच भुजङ्गमान्
Having spoken thus, they all looked at Vasuki, the chief of serpents; and Vasuki, reflecting, addressed the serpents.
नैषा वो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्मता कर्तुं भुजङ्गमाः। सर्वेषामेव मे बुद्धिः पन्नगानां न रोचते
This is not the final decision I approve for you, serpents; the plan of all the serpents does not please me.
किं तत्र संविधातव्यं भवतां स्याद्धितं तु यत्। श्रेयः प्रसादनं मन्ये कश्यपश्य महात्मनः
What should be arranged here that would be for your benefit? I think it is best to win the favor of the great-souled Kasyapa.
ज्ञातिवर्गस्य सौहार्दादात्मनश्च भुजङ्गमाः। न च जानाति मे बुद्धिः किंचित्कर्तुं वचो हिवः
Out of friendship for our kin and for ourselves, O serpents, my mind does not know what to do, nor do I accept your words.
मया हीदं विधातव्यं भवतां यद्धितं भवेत्। अनेनाहं भृशं तप्ये गुणदोषौ मदाश्रयौ
I must arrange whatever would be for your welfare; I am greatly troubled by the virtues and faults that depend on me.
सर्पाणां तु वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषामिति चेति च। वासुकेश्च वचः श्रुत्वा एलापत्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Having heard the words of all the serpents, and also Vasuki's speech, Elapatra spoke these words.
प्रागेव दर्शिता बुद्धिर्मयैषा भुजगोत्तमाः। हेयेति यदि वो बुद्धिस्तवापि च तथा प्रभो
This plan was shown earlier by me, O chief of serpents; if your intention is to abandon it, then so be it, O lord.
अस्तु कामं मभाद्यापि बुद्धिः स्मरणमागता। तां शृणुध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्येन पन्नगाः
Let it be as you wish, even if the plan is recalled; listen, O serpents, I will speak it to you truthfully.
न स यज्ञो न भविता न स राजा तथाविधः। जनमेजयः पाण्डवेयो यतोऽस्माकं महद्भयम्
That sacrifice will not occur, nor will that king be such; Janamejaya, the Pandava, from whom our great fear arises.
दैवेनोपहतो राजन्यो भवेदिह पूरुषः। स दैवमेवाश्रयेत नान्यत्तत्र परायणम्
When a royal person is struck down by fate in this world, he should rely only upon destiny; there is no other refuge in that matter.
तदिदं चैवमस्माकं भयं पन्नगसत्तमाः। दैवमेवाश्रयामोऽत्र शृणुध्वं च वचो मम
Therefore, O best among serpents, this is the fear that has come upon us; let us rely here upon destiny alone, and listen to my words.
अहं शापे समुत्सृष्टे समश्रौषं वचस्तदा। मातुरुत्सङ्गमारूढो भयात्पन्नगसत्तमाः। देवानां पन्नगश्रेष्ठास्तीक्ष्णास्तीक्ष्ण इति प्रभो
When the curse was pronounced, I heard those words at that time, O best among serpents, seated in my mother's lap out of fear; the gods, O lord, called the foremost serpents 'fierce, fierce.'
शापदुःखाग्नितप्तानां पन्नगानामनामयम्। कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टाः प्रार्थयन्तो दिवौकसः
The gods, moved by great compassion, prayed for the well-being of the serpents afflicted by the fire of the curse's suffering.
का हि लब्ध्वा प्रियान्पुत्राञ्शपेदेवं पितामह। ऋते कद्रूं तीक्ष्णरूपां देवदेव तवाग्रतः
What father, having obtained beloved sons, would curse them so, O grandsire, except for Kadru, fierce in form, before you, O lord of gods?
तथेति च वचस्तस्यास्त्वयाप्युक्तं पितामह। इच्छाम एतद्विज्ञातुं कारणं यन्न वारिता
And you, O grandsire, also spoke the words 'so be it' to her; we wish to know the reason why you did not prevent it.