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.'
प्रसादितो मया पूर्वं तवार्थाय पितामहः। तस्मात्तव भयं नास्ति व्येतु तेनसो ज्वरः
'Formerly, I have propitiated the Grandsire for your sake; therefore, you have no fear. Let your anxiety depart.'
एवमाश्वासितस्तेन ततः स भुजगोत्तमः। उवास भवने तस्मिञ्शक्रस्य मुदितः सुखी
Thus reassured by him, that best of serpents dwelled happily and content in Indra’s mansion.
अजस्रं निपतत्स्वग्नौ नागेषु भृशदुःखितः। अल्पशेषपरीवारो वासुकिः पर्यतप्यत
But Vasuki, surrounded by only a few remaining kin, was greatly tormented as the serpents fell endlessly into the fire.
कश्मलं चाविशद्धोरं वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। स घूर्णमानहृदयो भगिनीमिदमब्रवीत्
A dreadful despair seized Vasuki, the chief of serpents; his heart reeling, he spoke these words to his sister.
दह्यन्तेऽङ्गानि मे भद्रे न दिशः प्रतिभान्ति माम्। सीदामीव च संमोहाद्धूर्णतीव च मे मनः
'My limbs are burning, dear one, and I cannot perceive the directions; I seem to sink from confusion, and my mind reels.'
दृष्टिर्भ्राम्यति मेऽतीव हृदयं दीर्यतीव च। पतिष्याम्यवशोऽद्याहं तस्मिन्दीप्ते विभावसौ
'My vision whirls intensely, my heart feels as if it is torn; today, helpless, I shall fall into that blazing fire.'
पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञोऽसौ वर्ततेऽस्मज्जिघांसया। व्यक्तं मयाऽभिगन्तव्यं प्रेतराजनिवेशनम्
'That sacrifice of Parikshit's son is underway, intending our destruction; surely, I must go to the realm of the lord of the dead.'
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो यदर्थमसि मे स्वसः। जरत्करौ(पुरा)मयादत्तात्रायस्वास्मान्सबान्धवान्
'Now the time has come, sister, for which I gave you to Jaratkaru before; save us and our kin.'
आस्तीकः किल यज्ञं तं वर्तन्तं भुजगोत्तमे। प्रतिषेत्स्यति मां पूर्वं स्वयमाह पितामहः
'Astika, it is said, will oppose that ongoing sacrifice for the sake of the serpents; the Grandsire himself told me this before.'
तद्वत्से ब्रूहि वत्सं स्वं कुमारं वृद्धसंमतम्। ममाद्य त्वं सभृत्यस्य मोक्षार्थं वेदवित्तमम्
'Therefore, dear one, tell your son Astika, esteemed by the elders, who knows the Vedas, to secure freedom for me and my household today.'