निमित्तं महदुत्पन्नं यज्ञविघ्नकरं तदा। यज्ञस्यायतने तस्मिन्क्रियमाणे वचोऽब्रवीत्
At that time, a great omen arose, hindering the sacrifice; as the sacrificial ground was being prepared, a voice was heard.
स्थपतिर्बुद्धिसंपन्नो वास्तुविद्याविशारदः। इत्यब्रवीत्सूत्रधारः सूतः पौराणिकस्तदा
The master builder, wise and skilled in architecture, spoke then—the architect, the charioteer, and the reciter of ancient lore.
यस्मिन्देशे च काले च मापनेयं प्रवर्तिता। ब्राह्मणं कारणं कृत्वा नायं संस्थास्यते क्रतुः
In this place and at this time, since the measuring has begun with a Brahmin as the cause, this sacrifice will not be completed.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राजासौ प्राग्दीक्षाकालमब्रवीत्। क्षत्तारं न हि मे कश्चिदज्ञातः प्रविशेदिति
Hearing this, the king spoke before the time of initiation: 'Let no one unknown to me enter here, O steward.'
ततः कर्म प्रववृते सर्पसत्रविधानतः। पर्यक्रामंश्च विदिवत्स्वे स्वे कर्मणि याजकाः
Then the work of the serpent-sacrifice began; the priests performed their respective duties according to the proper rites.
प्रावृत्य कृष्णवासांसि धूम्रसंरक्तलोचनाः। जुहुवुर्मन्त्रवच्चैव समिद्धं जातवेदसम्
Clad in black garments, their eyes reddened with smoke, they offered oblations with mantras into the kindled fire.
कम्पयन्तश्च सर्वेषामुरगाणां मनांसि च। सर्पानाजुहुवुस्तत्र सर्वानग्निमुखे तदा
Shaking the minds of all serpents, they summoned all the snakes into the mouth of the fire at that time.
ततः सर्पाः समापेतुः प्रदीप्ते हव्यवाहने। विचेष्टमानाः कृपणमाह्वयन्तः परस्परम्
Then the serpents came together into the blazing sacrificial fire, writhing in distress and calling out to one another.
विस्फुरन्तः श्वसन्तश्च वेष्टयन्तः परस्परम्। पुच्छैः शिरोभिश्च भृशं चित्रभानुं प्रपेदिरे
They quivered, breathed heavily, and coiled around each other; with their tails and heads, they fiercely reached the radiant Bhanu.
श्वेताः कृष्णाश्च नीलाश्च स्थविराः शिशवस्तथा। नदन्तो विविधान्नादान्पेतुर्दीप्ते विभावसौ
White, black, blue, old, and young—making various cries, they rushed into the blazing fire.
क्रोशयोजनमात्रा हि गोकर्णस्य प्रमाणतः। पतन्त्यजस्रं वेगेन वह्नावग्निमतां वर
The measure of Gokarna is a krosha in length; they fell ceaselessly with speed into the fire, O best among those endowed with fire.
एवं शतसहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। अवशानि विनष्टानि पन्नगानां तु तत्र वै
Thus, hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, and crores—helpless and destroyed—of serpents perished there.
तुरगा इव तत्रान्ये हस्तिहस्ता इवापरे। मत्ता इव च मातङ्गा महाकाया महाबलाः
Some were like horses, others like elephants; intoxicated like mad elephants, with great bodies and immense strength.
उच्चावचाश्च बहवो नानावर्णा विषोल्बणाः। घोराश्च परिघप्रख्या दन्दशूका महाबलाः। प्रपेतुरग्नावुरगा मातृवाग्दण्डपीडिताः
Many were tall and short, of various colors, full of venom; fierce as iron clubs, powerful snakes fell into the fire, struck by their mothers' words and the rod.
सर्पसत्रे तदा राज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य धीमतः। जनमेजयस्य के त्वासन्नृत्विजः परमर्षयः
At the snake sacrifice of the wise Pandava king Janamejaya, who were the officiating priests, O supreme sages?
के सदस्या बभूवुश्च सर्पसत्रे सुदारुणे। विषादजननेऽत्यर्थं पन्नगानां महाभय
Who were the members present at the dreadful snake sacrifice, which caused the birth of poison and great fear among the serpents?
सर्वं विस्तरशस्तात भवाञ्छंसितुमर्हति। सर्पसत्रविधानज्ञविज्ञेयाः के च सूतज
O father, you ought to describe everything in detail; who were the Sutas, knowledgeable in the procedures of the snake sacrifice?
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नामानीह मनीषिणाम्। ये ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च तस्यासन्नृपतेस्तदा
Now, I will tell you the names of the wise men who were the officiating priests and members at that time for the king.
तत्र होता बभूवाथ ब्राह्मणश्चण्डभार्गवः। च्यवनस्यान्वये ख्यातो जातो वेदविदां वरः
There, the Hotṛ was the Brahmana Chandabhargava, renowned in the lineage of Cyavana, born as the foremost among those versed in the Vedas.
उद्गाता ब्राह्मणो वृद्धो विद्वान्कौत्सौऽथ जैमिनिः। ब्र्हमाऽभवच्छार्ङ्गरवोऽथाध्वर्युश्चापि पिङ्गलः
The Udgātṛ was the aged and learned Brahmana Kautsa, and Jaimini; Brahma was Shārngarava, and the Adhvaryu was Pingala.
सदस्यश्चाभवद्व्यासः पुत्रशिष्यसहायवान्। उद्दालकः प्रमतकः श्वेतकेतुश्च पिङ्गलः
Vyasa was a member, accompanied by his sons and disciples; Uddalaka, Pramataka, Shvetaketu, and Pingala.
असितो देवलश्चैव नारदः पर्वतस्तथा। आत्रेयः कुम्डजठरौ द्विजः कालघटस्तथा
Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kumda-Jathara, and the Brahmana Kalaghat.
वात्स्यः श्रुतश्रवा वृद्धो जपस्वाध्यायशीलवान्। कोहलो देवशर्मा च मौद्गल्यः समसौरभः
Vatsya, the aged Shrutashrava, devoted to recitation and study; Kohala, Devasharma, Maudgalya, and Samasaurabha.
एते चान्ये च बहवो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। सदस्याश्चाभवंस्तत्र सत्रे पारिक्षितस्य ह
These and many other Brahmanas, accomplished in the Vedas, were members at the sacrifice of Parikshit's son.
जुह्वत्स्वृत्विक्ष्वथ तदा सर्पसत्रे महाक्रतौ। अहयः प्रापतंस्तत्र घोराः प्राणिभयावहाः
When the priests were offering oblations at the great snake sacrifice, the serpents fell there—terrible, bringing fear to living beings.
वसामेदोवहाः कुल्या नागानां संप्रवर्तिताः। ववौ गन्धश्च तुमुलो दह्यतामनिशं तदा
Streams carrying fat and marrow of the serpents flowed forth; a tumultuous scent blew as they burned day and night.
पततां चैव नागानां धिष्ठितानां तथाम्बरे। अश्रूयतानिशं शब्दः पच्यतां चाग्निना भृशम्
And as the serpents fell, stationed in the sky, an unceasing sound was heard, and they were fiercely consumed by fire.
तक्षकस्तु स नागेन्द्रः पुरंदरनिवेशनम्। गतः श्रुत्वैव राजानं दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्
But Takshaka, the lord of serpents, went to the abode of Indra, having heard that King Janamejaya had undertaken the sacrifice.
ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तमाख्याय भुजगोत्तमः। अगच्छच्छरणं भीत आगस्कृत्वा पुरंदरम्
Then, having recounted everything as it had happened, the best of serpents, fearful and having committed a transgression, sought refuge with Indra.
तमिन्द्रः प्राह सुप्रीतो न तवास्तीह तक्षक। भयं नागेन्द्र तस्माद्वै सर्पसत्रात्कदाचन
Indra, greatly pleased, said to him: 'Here, Takshaka, you have no fear, O lord of serpents, at any time from that serpent-sacrifice.'