शशापाथ महातेजाः पितरं ते रुषान्वितः। ऋषेः पुत्रो महातेजा बालोऽपि स्थविरद्युतिः
Then, filled with anger, the great and radiant son of the sage, though a boy with the brilliance of an elder, cursed your father.
स क्षिप्रमुदकं स्पृष्ट्वा रोषादिदमुवाच ह। पितरं तेऽभिसन्धाय तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव
Quickly touching water, blazing with energy, he spoke these words in wrath, directing them at your father.
अनागसि गुरौ यो मे मृतं सर्पवासृजत्। तं नागस्तक्षकः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा प्रदहिष्यति
He who placed a dead serpent on my innocent and venerable father—him shall the serpent Takṣaka, enraged, burn up with his fiery power.
आशीविषस्तिग्मतेजा मद्वाक्यबलचोदितः। सप्तरात्रादितः पापं पश्य मे तपसो बलम्
The venomous serpent, fierce in might, impelled by the force of my words, will, after seven nights, display the power of my austerity—behold!
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र पिता यत्राऽस्य सोऽभवत्। दृष्ट्वा च पितरं तस्मै तं शापं प्रत्यवेदयत्
Having said this, he went to where his father was, and upon seeing him, reported the curse he had pronounced.
स चापि मुनिशार्दूलः प्रेरयामास ते पितुः। शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं गुणान्वितम्
And that tiger among sages sent your father’s disciple, named Gauramukha, a man of virtue and good qualities.
आचख्यौं सत्त्व विश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः। शप्तोऽसि मम पुत्रेण यत्तो भव महीपते
He, composed in spirit, told the king everything in detail: 'You have been cursed by my son—be vigilant, O king!'
तक्षकस्त्वां महाराज तेजसाऽसौ दहिष्यति। श्रुत्वा च तद्वचो घोरं पिता ते जनमेजय
'Takṣaka, O great king, will burn you with his fiery power.' Hearing those dreadful words, your father, Janamejaya—
यत्तोऽभवत्परित्रस्तस्तक्षकात्पन्नगोत्तमात्। ततस्तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे सप्तमे समुपस्थिते
—became vigilant and fearful of Takṣaka, the foremost of serpents. Then, when the seventh day had arrived—
राज्ञः समीपं ब्रह्मर्षिः काश्यपो गन्तुमैच्छत। तं ददर्शाथ नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः [https://vedastudy.wixsite.com/puranastudy/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95-%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%95 तक्षकोपरि टिप्पणी] काश्यपं तदा
A brahmarṣi named Kāśyapa wished to go to the king. At that time, the serpent lord Takṣaka saw Kāśyapa.
तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं त्वरितं द्विजम्। क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति
The serpent king quickly addressed Kāśyapa, the swift-moving twice-born: 'Where are you hastening, and what do you intend to do?'
यत्र राजा कुरुश्रेष्ठः परिक्षिन्नाम वै द्विज। तक्षकेण भुजंगेन धक्ष्यते किल सोऽद्य वै
'Where the king, best of the Kurus, named Parikṣit, is to be burned today by the serpent Takṣaka—I, O twice-born, am going there.'
गच्छाम्यहं तं त्वरितः सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम्। मयाऽभिपन्नं तं चापि न सर्पो धर्षयिष्यति
'I am going quickly to relieve him of his fever at once; and if I am present, the serpent will not be able to harm him.'
किमर्थं तं मया दष्टं संजीवयितुमिच्छसि। अहं त तक्षको ब्रह्मन्पश्य मे वीर्यमद्भुतम्
'Why do you wish to revive him after I have bitten him? I am Takṣaka, O brahmin—behold my wondrous power!'
इत्युक्त्वा तक्षकस्तत्र सोऽदशद्वै वनस्पतिम्
Having spoken thus, Takshaka there bit the tree.
स दष्टमात्रो नागेन भस्मीभूतोऽभवन्नगः। काश्यपश्च ततो राजन्नजीवयत तं नगम्
As soon as it was bitten by the serpent, the tree was reduced to ashes; then, O King, Kashyapa revived that tree.
ततस्तं लोभयामास कामं ब्रूहीति तक्षकः। स एवमुक्तस्तं प्राह काश्यपस्तक्षकं पुनः
Then Takshaka tempted him, saying, 'Tell me your desire'; thus addressed, Kashyapa spoke again to Takshaka.
धनलिप्सुरहं तत्र यामीत्युक्तश्च तेन सः। तमुवाच महात्मानं तक्षकः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
He said, 'I am going there desiring wealth'; thus addressed, Takshaka spoke gently to that great-souled one.
यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे राज्ञस्तस्मात्ततोऽधिकम्। गृहाण मत्त एव त्वं सन्निवर्तस्व चानघ
Whatever wealth you seek from the king, take even more than that from me, O sinless one, and turn back.
स एवमुक्तो नागेन काश्यपो द्विपदां वरः। लब्ध्वा वित्तं निववृते तक्षकाद्यावदीप्सितम्
Thus addressed by the serpent, Kashyapa, best of men, having received the desired wealth from Takshaka, turned back.
तस्मिन्प्रतिगते विप्रे छद्मनोपेत्य तक्षकः। तं नृपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठं पितरं धार्मिकं तव
When the Brahmin had departed, Takshaka, by deception, approached your righteous father, the foremost of kings.
प्रासादस्थं यत्तमपि दग्धवान्विषवह्निना। ततस्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र विजयायाभिषेचितः
Though he was guarded in his palace, Takshaka burned that king, your father, with the fire of his poison; then you, tiger among men, were consecrated for victory.
एतद्दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि यथावन्नृपसत्तम। अस्माभिर्निखिलं सर्वं कथितं तेऽतिदारुणम्
O best of kings, all this, as seen and heard, has been fully and terribly recounted to you by us.
श्रुत्वा चैतं नरश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्य पराभवम्। अस्य चर्षेरुदङ्कस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
Hearing of this defeat of the king, O best of men, do now, for the sage Utanka, what is to be done next.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा जनमेजयः। उवाच मन्त्रिणः सर्वानिदं वाक्यमरिदमः
At that very time, King Janamejaya, destroyer of foes, spoke these words to all his ministers.
अथ तत्कथितं केन यद्वृत्तं तद्वनस्पतौ। आश्चर्यभूतं लोकस्य भस्मराशीकृतं तदा
Then, who told of that wondrous event that happened to the tree, which became a heap of ashes, astonishing to the world?
यद्वृक्षं जीवयामास काश्यपस्तक्षकेण वै। नूनं मन्त्रैर्हतविषो न प्रणश्येत काश्यपात्
That tree which Kashyapa revived after Takshaka had bitten it—surely, by mantras, the poison destroyed, nothing perishes from Kashyapa.
चिन्तयामास पापात्मा मनसा पन्नगाधमः। दष्टं यदि मया विप्रः पार्थिवं जीवयिष्यति
The wicked-minded, base serpent thought to himself: 'If the Brahmin whom I have bitten revives the king—'
तक्षकः संहतविषो लोके यास्यति हास्यताम्। विचिन्त्यैवं कृता तेन ध्रुवं तुष्टिर्द्विजस्य वै
'Takshaka, whose poison is united, will become an object of ridicule in the world.' Thus reflecting, he was certainly satisfied with the Brahmin.
भविष्यति ह्युपायेन यस्य दास्यामि यातनाम्। एकं तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि तद्वृत्तं निर्जने वने
'By some means, I will inflict suffering upon him; but I wish to hear in detail what happened in the lonely forest.'