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.
नैह त्वदन्यो विद्यते जीवलोके समो नृपः पालयिता प्रजानाम्। धृत्या च ते प्रतीमनाः सदाहं त्वं वा वरुणो धर्मराजो यमो वा
In this world of living beings, O king, there is none besides you who is equal in protecting the people; by your steadfastness I am always reassured—indeed, you are like Varuna, Dharmaraja, or Yama.
शक्रः साक्षाद्वज्रपाणिर्यथेह त्राता लोकेऽस्मिंस्त्वं तथेह प्रजानाम्। मतस्त्वं नः पुरुषेन्द्रेह लोके न च त्वदन्यो भूपतिरस्ति जज्ञे
Just as Shakra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, is the protector in this world, so are you the guardian of the people; in my view, you are the foremost among men here, and no other king has been born who equals you.
खट्वाङ्गनाभगदिलीपकल्प ययातिमान्धातृसमप्रभाव। आदित्यतेजःप्रतिमानतेजा भीष्मो यथा राजसि सुव्रतस्त्वम्
You are like Khatvanga, Nabhaga, Dilipa, Yayati, and Mandhata in might; your brilliance is akin to the radiance of the sun, and you rule with noble vows like Bhishma.
वाल्मीकिवत्ते निभृतं स्ववीर्यं वसिष्ठवत्ते नियतश्च कोपः। प्रभुत्वमिन्द्रत्वसमं मतं मे द्युतिश्च नारायणवद्विभाति
Like Valmiki, you conceal your own strength; like Vasishtha, your anger is restrained; your sovereignty is, in my opinion, equal to Indra’s, and your splendor shines like Narayana’s.
यमो यथा धर्मविनिश्चयज्ञः कृष्णो यथा सर्वगुणोपपन्नः। श्रियां निवासोऽसि यथा वसूनां निधानभूतोऽसि तथा क्रतूनाम्
Just as Yama is skilled in discerning righteousness, and Krishna is endowed with all virtues, you are the abode of prosperity like the Vasus, and the repository of sacrifices.
दम्भोद्भवेनासि समो बलेन रामो यथा शस्त्रविदस्त्रविच्च। और्वत्रिताभ्यामसि तुल्यतेजा दुष्प्रेक्षणीयोऽसि भगीरथेन
In strength you are equal to Dambhodbhava, in mastery of weapons and their use you are like Rama; your brilliance matches that of Aurva and Trita, and you are as difficult to behold as Bhagiratha.
एवं स्तुताः सर्व एव प्रसन्ना राजा सदस्या ऋत्विजो हव्यवाहः। तेषां दृष्ट्वा भावितानीङ्गितानि प्रोवाच राजा जनमेजयोऽथ
Thus praised, all were pleased—the king, the assembly, the priests, and the fire-offerer; seeing their auspicious gestures, King Janamejaya then spoke.
बालोऽप्ययं स्थविर इवावभाषते नायं बालः स्थविरोऽयं मतो मे। इच्छाम्यहं वरमस्मै प्रदातुं तन्मे विप्राः संविदध्वं यथावत्
Though he is a boy, he speaks like an elder; I do not consider him a child, but an elder. I wish to grant him a boon—O Brahmins, arrange this properly for me.
यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्
And as Takshaka comes to us swiftly—
व्याहर्तुकामे वरदे नृपे द्विजं वरं वृणीष्वेति ततोऽब्युवाच। होता वाक्यं नातिहृष्टान्तरात्मा कर्मण्यस्मिंस्तक्षको नैति तावत्
When the king, the giver of boons, wished to speak, he said to the Brahmin, 'Choose your boon.' Then the hotar, not entirely pleased in his heart, spoke: 'Takshaka does not come while this ritual is ongoing.'