ते तं प्रसादयामासुः सुराः सर्वेऽब्जसंभवम्। राज्ञा वासुकिना सार्धं शापोऽसौन भवेदिति
All the gods, together with King Vāsuki, sought to appease the lotus-born one, so that the curse might not take effect.
वासुकिर्नागराजोऽयं दुःखितो ज्ञातिकारणात्। अभिशापः स मातुस्तु भगवन्न भवेत्कथम्
Vāsuki, the king of serpents, was distressed on account of his kin; O blessed one, how can the curse of his mother not come to pass?
जरत्कारुर्जरत्कारुं यां भार्यां समवाप्स्यति। तत्र जातो द्विजः शापान्मोक्षयिष्यति पन्नगान्
When Jaratkāru marries a wife named Jaratkāru, then a twice-born son will be born who will release the serpents from the curse.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं वासुकिः पन्नगोत्तमः। प्रादान्माममरप्रख्य तव पित्रे महात्मने
Hearing these words, Vāsuki, the foremost of serpents, gave me to your noble father, as if I were immortal.
प्रागेवानागते काले तस्मात्त्व मय्यजायथाः। अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो भयान्नस्त्रातुमर्हसि
Before the destined time arrived, you were born from me; now that time has come, you must save us from fear.
भ्रातरं चापि मे तस्मात्त्रातुमर्हसि पावकात्। न मोघं तु कृतं तत्स्याद्यदहं तव धीमते। पित्रे दत्ता विमोक्षार्थं कथं वा पुत्र मन्यसे
Therefore, you must save my brother from the fire; let not the promise made by your wise father be in vain; he gave you for our liberation—what do you think, my son?
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सास्तीको मातरं तदा। अब्रवीद्दुःखसंतप्तं वासुकिं जीवयन्निव
Thus addressed, Śaunaka replied, 'So be it,' and then spoke to his mother, comforting the sorrowful Vāsuki as if reviving him.
अहं त्वां मोक्षयिष्यामि वासुके पन्नगोत्तम। तस्माच्छापान्महासत्त्व सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
I will deliver you, Vāsuki, foremost of serpents; therefore, O great one, I speak this truth to you: I will free you from the curse.
भव स्वस्थमना नाग न हि ते विद्यते भयम्। प्रयतिष्ये तथा राजन्यथा श्रेयो भविष्यति
Be of calm mind, O serpent; you have no cause for fear. I will strive so that the king’s sacrifice will bring about your welfare.
न मे वागनृतं प्राह स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा। तं वै नृपवरं गत्वा दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्
My words have never been false, not even among my own; how then could they be otherwise? I will go to the noble king Janamejaya, who is consecrated.
वाग्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिस्तोषयिष्येऽद्य मातुल। यथा स यज्ञो नृपतेर्निवत्रिष्यति सत्तम
Today I will please the king with auspicious words, O uncle, so that the sacrifice of the noble king may be stopped, O excellent one.
स संभावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्वं महामते। न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमर्हति
O wise serpent king, trust in me completely; let your mind never harbor doubt about me.
आस्तीक परिघूर्णामि हृदयं मे विदीर्यते। दिशो न प्रतिजानामि ब्रह्मदण्डनिपीडितः
Āstīka, I am reeling, my heart is breaking; I cannot discern the directions, afflicted by the rod of Brahma.
न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः कथंचित्पन्नगोत्तम। प्रदीप्ताग्नेः समुत्पन्नं नाशयिष्यामि ते भयम्
You should not be troubled in any way, O best of serpents; I will dispel your fear that has arisen from the blazing fire.
ब्रह्मदण्डं महाघोरं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्। नाशयिष्यामि माऽत्र त्वं भयंकार्षीः कथंचन
I will destroy the terrible rod of Brahma, equal in power to the fire of time; do not be afraid here in any way.
ततः स वासुकेर्घोरमपनीय मनोज्वरम्। आधाय चात्मनोऽङ्गेषु जगाम त्वरितो भृशम्
Then, removing the dreadful anguish from Vāsuki, he placed it upon himself and departed swiftly.
जनमेजयस्य तं यज्ञं सर्वैः समुदितं गुणैः। मोक्षाय भुजगेन्द्राणामास्तीको द्विजसत्तमः
Āstīka, best of twice-born, went to the sacrifice of Janamejaya, endowed with all virtues, for the deliverance of the lords of serpents.
स गत्वाऽपश्यदास्तीको यज्ञायतनमुत्तमम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिः सूर्यवह्निसमप्रभैः
Having gone there, Āstīka saw the excellent sacrificial enclosure, filled with many officiants shining like the sun and fire.
स तत्र वारितो द्वास्थैः प्रविशन्द्विजसत्तमः। अभितुष्टाव तं यज्ञं प्रवेशार्थी परंतपः
There, as he tried to enter, the best of twice-born was stopped by the gatekeepers; desiring entry, the mighty ascetic praised the sacrifice.
स प्राप्य यज्ञायतनं वरिष्ठं द्विजोत्तमः पुण्यकृतां वरिष्ठः। तुष्टाव राजानमनन्तकीर्ति- मृत्विक्सदस्यांश्च तथैव चाग्निम्
Having reached the foremost sacrificial hall, the best of twice-born, foremost among the virtuous, praised the king of endless fame, the priests, the officiants, and likewise the fire.
सोमस्य यज्ञो वरुणस्य यज्ञः प्रजापतेर्यज्ञ आसीत्प्रयागे। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
There was a sacrifice of Soma, a sacrifice of Varuṇa, and a sacrifice of Prajāpati at Prayāga; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
शक्रस्य यज्ञः शतसङ्ख्य उक्त- स्तथापरं तुल्यसङ्ख्यं शतं वै। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
A hundred sacrifices of Indra are spoken of, and another hundred of equal number; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
यमस्य यज्ञो हरिमेधसश्च यथा यज्ञो रन्तिदेवस्य राज्ञः। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
The sacrifice of Yama and of Harimedhas, and the sacrifice of King Rantideva; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
गयस्य यज्ञः शशबिन्दोश्च राज्ञो यज्ञसल्तथा वैश्रवणस्य राज्ञः। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
The sacrifice of Gaya and of King Śaśabindu, and the sacrifice of King Vaiśravaṇa; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
नृगस्य यज्ञस्त्वजमीढस्य चासी- द्यथा यज्ञो दाशरथेश्च राज्ञः। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
The sacrifice of Nṛga and of Ajamīḍha, and the sacrifice of King Daśaratha; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
यज्ञः श्रुतो दिवि देवस्य सूनो- र्युधिष्ठिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञः। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
The sacrifice heard of in heaven, of the son of the god, of Yudhiṣṭhira, and of King Ajamīḍha; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
कृष्णस्य यज्ञः सत्यवत्याः सुतस्य स्वयं च कर्म प्रचकार यत्र। तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
The sacrifice of Kṛṣṇa, son of Satyavatī, where he himself performed the rite; likewise, this sacrifice of yours, foremost of Bhāratas, O son of Parikṣit, may there be well-being for us and our loved ones.
इमे च ते सूर्यसमानवर्चसः समासते वृत्रहणः क्रतुं यथा। नैषां ज्ञातुं विद्यते ज्ञानमद्य दत्तं येभ्यो न प्रणश्येत्कदाचित्
And these here, whose brilliance equals the sun, are assembled as for Indra's rite; today, knowledge of them cannot be attained, nor will the gifts given to them ever be lost.
ऋत्विक्समो नास्ति लोकेषु चैव द्वैपायनेनेति विनिश्चितं मे। एतस्य शिष्या हि क्षितिं संचरन्ति सर्वर्त्विजः कर्मसु स्वेषु दक्षाः
There is no officiant in the worlds equal to Dvaipāyana; this is my firm conviction. His disciples roam the earth, all skilled in their own sacrificial duties.
विभावसुश्चित्रभानुर्महात्मा हिरण्यरेता हुतभुक्कृष्णवर्त्मा। प्रदक्षिमावर्तशिखः प्रदीप्तो हव्यं तवेदं हुतभुग्वष्टि देवः
Vibhāvasu, of wondrous radiance, great-souled, golden-seeded, consumer of offerings, dark-tracked, with a whirling, blazing crest—this fire, O god, receives your oblation.