विद्याबलं पन्नगेन्द्र पश्य मेऽद्य वनस्पतौ। अहं संजीवयाम्येनं पश्यतस्ते भुजंगम
See, O serpent king, the power of my knowledge today upon this tree; I will restore it to life—witness this, O serpent.
ततः स भगवान्विद्वान्काश्यपो द्विजसत्तमः। भस्मराशीकृतं वृक्षं विद्यया समजीवयत्
Then that venerable and learned Kāśyapa, best of the twice-born, revived the tree, which had become a heap of ashes, by his knowledge.
अङ्कुरं कृतवांस्तत्र ततः पर्णद्वयान्वितम्। पलाशिनं शाखिनं च तथा विटपिनं पुनः
There he produced a sprout, then one with two leaves, then a branch, a leafy bough, and again a tree with spreading limbs.
तं दृष्ट्वा जीवितं वृक्षं काश्यपेन महात्मना। उवाच तक्षको ब्रह्मन्नैतदत्यद्भुतं त्वयि
Seeing the tree restored to life by the great-souled Kāśyapa, Takṣaka said, 'O brāhmaṇa, this is truly wondrous in you.'
द्विजेन्द्र यद्विषं हन्या मम वा मद्विधस्य वा। कं त्वमर्थमभिप्रेप्सुर्यासि तत्र तपोधन
O foremost of twice-born, if you can neutralize my poison or that of one like me, for what purpose, O possessor of austerity, are you going there?
यत्तेऽभिलषितं प्राप्तं फलं तस्मान्नृपोत्तमात्। अहमेव प्रदास्यामि तत्ते यद्यपि दुर्लभम्
Whatever fruit you desire to obtain from that best of kings, I myself will give it to you, even if it is difficult to attain.
विप्रशापाभिभूते च क्षीणायुषि नराधिपे। घटमानस्य ते विप्र सिद्धिः संशयिता भवेत्
The king, overpowered by a brāhmaṇa's curse and with his life nearly spent, O brāhmaṇa, your success in striving may be doubtful.
ततो यशः प्रदीप्तं ते त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्। निरंशुरिव घर्मांशुरन्तर्धानमितो व्रजेत्
Then your blazing fame, renowned in the three worlds, would vanish from here like the sun's rays at sunset.
धनार्थी याम्यहं तत्र तन्मे देहि भुजंगम। ततोऽहं विनिवर्तिष्ये स्वापतेयं प्रगृह्य वै
I am going there for the sake of wealth; grant me that, O serpent. Then I will return, taking my due payment.
यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे तस्माद्राज्ञस्ततोऽधिकम्। अहमेव प्रदास्यामि निवर्तस्व द्विजोत्तम
Whatever amount of wealth you seek from that king, I will give you even more than that; turn back, O best of twice-born.
तक्षकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा काश्यपो द्विजसत्तमः। प्रदध्यौ सुमहातेजाराजानं प्रति बुद्धिमान्
Hearing Takṣaka's words, Kāśyapa, best of the twice-born, of great energy, thoughtfully considered the king.
दिव्यज्ञानः स तेजस्वी ज्ञात्वा तं नृपतिं तदा। क्षीणायुषं पाण्डवेयमपावर्तत काश्यपः
That radiant sage, endowed with divine knowledge, then perceived that the king of the Pāṇḍavas had little life left, and Kāśyapa turned back.
लब्ध्वा वित्तं मुनिवरस्तक्षकाद्यावदीप्सितम्। निवृत्ते काश्यपे तस्मिन्समयेन महात्मनि
Having received the wealth he desired from Takṣaka, the great sage Kāśyapa turned back at that very moment.
जगाम तक्षकस्तूर्णं नगरं नागसाह्वयम्। अथ शुश्राव गच्छन्स तक्षको जगतीपतिम्
Takṣaka swiftly went to the city called Nāgasāhvaya, and as he went, Takṣaka heard of the lord of the earth.
मन्त्रैर्विषहरैर्दिव्यै रक्ष्यमाणं प्रयत्नतः
He was being carefully protected by divine spells that neutralize poison.
मया वञ्चयितव्योऽसौ क उपायो भवेदिति। ततस्तापसरूपेण प्राहिणोत्स भुजंगमान्
'I must deceive him—what means can there be?' Then, taking the form of an ascetic, he sent forth the serpents.
गच्छध्वं यूयमव्यग्रा राजानं कार्यवत्तया
Go forth, all of you, without hesitation, to the king, with diligence in your task.
ते तक्षकसमादिष्टास्तथा चक्रुर्भुजङ्गमाः
Those serpents, instructed by Takshaka, acted accordingly.
उपनिन्युस्तथा राज्ञे दर्भानम्भः फलानि च। तच्च सर्वं स राजेन्द्रः प्रतिजग्राह वीर्यवान्
They brought to the king darbha grass, water, and fruits; and the mighty king accepted all of it.
कृत्वा तेषां च कार्याणि गम्यतामित्युवाच तान्। गतेषु तेषु नागेषु तापसच्छद्मरूपिषु
Having accomplished their tasks, he said to them, 'You may depart'; and when those serpents, disguised as ascetics, had left,
अमात्यान्सुहृदश्चैव प्रोवाच स नराधिपः। भक्षयन्तु भवन्तो वै स्वादूनीमानि सर्वशः
The king spoke to his ministers and friends: 'Let all of you eat these sweet fruits.'
तापसैरुपनीतानि फलानि सहिता मया। ततो राजा ससचिवः फलान्यादातुमैच्छत
The fruits brought by the ascetics were given to me; then the king, together with his ministers, wished to eat the fruits.
विधिना संप्रयुक्तो वै ऋषिवाक्येन तेन तु। यस्मिन्नेव फले नागस्तमेवाभक्षयत्स्वयम्
Bound by ritual and the words of the sage, he ate the very fruit in which the serpent was present.
ततो भक्षयतस्तस्य फलात्कृमिरभूदणुः। ह्रस्वकः कृष्णनयनस्ताम्रवर्णोऽथ शौनक
Then, as he ate the fruit, a tiny worm appeared—short, with black eyes and copper-colored, O Shaunaka.
स तं गृह्य नृपश्रेष्ठः सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्। अस्तमभ्येति सविता विषादद्य न मे भयम्
Taking it, the illustrious king said to his ministers: 'The sun is setting; today I have no fear of poison.'
सत्यवागस्तु स मुनिः कृमिर्मां दशतामयम्। तक्षको नाम भूत्वा वै तथा परिहृतं भवेत्
But the sage, true to his word, said: 'This worm will bite me; becoming Takshaka by name, thus it will be accomplished.'
ते चैनमन्ववर्तन्त मन्त्रिणः कालचोदिताः। एवमुक्त्वा स राजेन्द्रो ग्रीवायां सन्निवेश्यह
The ministers, prompted by time, followed him; and so, having spoken, the king placed it upon his neck.
कृमिकं प्राहसत्तूर्णं मुमूर्षुर्नष्टचेतनः। प्रहसन्नेव भोगेन तक्षकेणाभिवेष्टितः
Desiring death and losing consciousness, he laughed and quickly placed the worm; even as he laughed, Takshaka wrapped around him with his coil.
तस्मात्फलाद्विनिष्क्रम्य यत्तद्राज्ञे निवेदितम्। वेष्टयित्वा च भोगेन विनद्य च महास्वनम्। अदशत्पृथिवीपालं तक्षकः पन्नगेश्वरः
Emerging from the fruit, as had been reported to the king, Takshaka, lord of serpents, wrapped him with his coil, roared loudly, and bit the ruler of the earth.
तं तथा मन्त्रिणो दृष्ट्वा भोगेन परिवेष्टितम्। विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे रुरुदुर्भृशदुःखिताः
Seeing him thus encircled by the coil, all the ministers, faces distressed, wept in great sorrow.