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.'
तत आहूय पुत्रं स्वं जरत्कारुर्भुजंगमा। वासुकेर्नागराजस्य वचनादिदमब्रवीत्
Then, summoning her son Jaratkaru, the serpent woman, at the command of Vasuki, king of the serpents, spoke these words.
अहं तव पितुः पुत्र भ्रात्रा दत्ता निमित्ततः। कालः स चायं संप्राप्तस्तत्कुरुष्व यथातथम्
'I was given to your father, my son, by my brother for a purpose; now that time has come—do what must be done.'
किंनिमित्तं मम पितुर्दत्ता त्वं मातुलेन मे। तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन श्रुत्वा कर्ताऽस्मि तत्तथा
'For what reason did my uncle give you to my father? Tell me that truly; having heard, I will act accordingly.'
तत आचष्ट सा तस्मै बान्धवानां हितैषिणी। भगिनी नागराजस्य जरत्कारुरविक्लबा
Then she, the well-wisher of her kin, the sister of the serpent king, Jaratkaru, unwavering, explained everything to him.
पन्नगानामशेषाणां माता कद्रूरिति श्रुता। तया शप्ता रुषितया सुता यस्मान्निबोध तत्
Kadru is known as the mother of all serpents; listen to the reason why her angry curse befell her sons.
उच्चैः श्रवाः सोऽश्वराजो यन्मिथ्या न कृतो मम। विनतार्थाय पणिते दासभावाय पुत्रकाः
Uccaiḥśravā, the king of horses, was not made by me falsely; my sons were wagered for Vinatā’s sake, to become servants.
जनमेजयस्य वो यज्ञे धक्ष्यत्यनिलसारथिः। तत्र पञ्चत्वमापन्नाः प्रेतलोकं गमिष्यथ
In the sacrifice of Janamejaya, you will be consumed by the wind-charioteer; there you will perish and go to the world of the departed.
तां च शप्तवतीं देवः साक्षाल्लोकपितामहः। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं प्रोवाचानु मुमोद च
The god, the grandfather of the worlds, directly addressed her who had uttered the curse, saying, 'So be it,' and was pleased with her words.
वासुकिश्चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा पितामहवचस्तदा। अमृते मथिते तात देवाञ्छरणमीयिवान्
Vāsuki, upon hearing the words of the Grandfather at that time, when the nectar was churned, sought refuge with the gods.
सिद्धार्थाश्च सुराः सर्वे प्राप्यामृतमनुत्तमम्। भ्रातरं मे पुरस्कृत्य पितामहमुपागमन्
All the gods, having attained the supreme nectar, accomplished their purpose; bringing my brother forward, they approached the Grandfather.