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.'
यथा चेदं कर्म समाप्यते मे यथा च वै तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्। तथा भवन्तः प्रयतन्तु सर्वे परं शक्त्या स हि मे विद्विषाणः
Just as this ritual is completed for me, and just as Takshaka comes quickly, so let all of you strive with utmost effort, for he is my enemy.
यथा शस्त्राणि नः प्राहुर्यथा शंसति पावकः। इन्द्रस्य भवने राजंस्तक्षको भयपीडितः
As our scriptures declare, as the fire proclaims, O king, Takshaka, afflicted by fear, is in Indra’s abode.
यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा पौराणिको वेदितवान्पुरस्तात्। स राजानं प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्नृदेव
Just as the charioteer with red eyes, of great soul, who knows the ancient tales, has previously understood, so he then addressed the king when asked, saying what the Brahmins declare, let this be spoken, O king.
पुराणमागम्य ततो ब्रवीम्यहं दत्तं तस्मै वरमिन्द्रेण राजन्। वसेह त्वं मत्सकाशे सुगुप्तो न पावकस्त्वां प्रदहिष्यतीति
Drawing from the ancient tradition, I now speak: Indra granted Takshaka a boon, O king—'Stay here with me, well protected; fire will not burn you.'
तदा जगामाहिदत्ताभयः प्रभुः
Then the lord, freed from fear by the serpents, departed.
भविष्यतीत्येव विचिन्तयानः
Thinking, 'It will happen,' he pondered.
तस्योत्तरीये निहितः स नागो भयोद्विग्नः शर्म नैवाभ्यगच्छत्। ततो राजा मन्त्रविदोऽब्रवीत्पुनः क्रुद्धो वाक्यं तक्षकस्यान्तमिच्छन्
That serpent, placed in the upper garment, distressed by fear, found no comfort; then the king, versed in mantras, spoke again, angry and desiring Takshaka’s end.
इन्द्रस्य भवने विप्रा यदि नागः स तक्षकः। तमिन्द्रेणैव सहितं पातयध्यं विभावसौ
If that serpent Takshaka is in Indra’s abode, O Brahmins, then let him be cast down together with Indra by the fire.
जनमेजयेन राज्ञा तु नोदितस्तक्षकं प्रति। होता जुहाव तत्रस्थं तक्षकं पन्नगं तथा
But since King Janamejaya had not specifically summoned Takshaka, the Hotri priest offered oblations there to summon Takshaka, the serpent.
हूयमाने तथा चैव तक्षकः सपुरन्दरः। आकाशे ददृशे तत्र क्षणेन व्यथितस्तदा
As the oblation was being offered in this way, Takshaka, together with Purandara, appeared in the sky at that moment, greatly agitated.
पुरन्दरस्तु तं यज्ञं दृष्ट्वोरुभयमाविशत्। हित्वा तु तक्षकं त्रस्तः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ
But Purandara, seeing that sacrifice, entered it with Takshaka, and then, abandoning the frightened Takshaka, returned to his own abode.
इन्द्रे गते तु राजेन्द्र तक्षको भयमोहितः। मन्त्रशक्त्या पावकार्चिस्समीपमवशो गतः। `तं दृष्ट्वा ऋत्विजस्तत्र वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्
When Indra had departed, O king, Takshaka, overcome by fear and confusion, was helplessly drawn by the power of the mantra toward the flames of the fire; seeing him there, the officiating priests spoke these words.
अयमायाति तूर्णं स तक्षकस्ते वशं नृप। श्रूयतेऽस्य महान्नादो नदतो भैरवं रवम्
This Takshaka is coming swiftly under your control, O king; his terrible, fearsome roar is heard as he cries out.
नूनं मुक्तो वज्रभृता स नागो भ्रष्टो नाकान्मन्त्रवित्रस्तकायः। घूर्णन्नाकाशे नष्टसंज्ञोऽभ्युपैति तीव्रान्निश्वासान्निश्वसन्पन्नगेन्द्रः
Surely, that serpent has been abandoned by the wielder of the thunderbolt, cast down from the heavens, terrified by the mantra; reeling in the sky, his senses lost, the lord of serpents approaches, breathing heavily in distress.
वर्तते तव राजेन्द्र कर्मैतद्विधिवत्प्रभो। अस्मै तु द्विजमुख्याय वरं त्वं दातुमर्हसि
Your sacrifice proceeds properly, O king; now you should grant a boon to this foremost of Brahmins.
बालाभिरूपस्य तवाप्रमेय वरं प्रयच्छामि यथानुरूपम्। वृणीष्व यत्तेऽभिमतं हृदि स्थितं तत्ते प्रदास्याम्यपि चेददेयम्
To you, who are youthful and of immeasurable form, I shall grant a suitable boon; choose whatever you desire that is in your heart, and if it is possible, I shall give it to you.
पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि। इदमन्तरमित्येवं तदास्तीकोऽभ्यचोदयत्
As Takshaka, the lord of serpents, was about to fall into the fire, Astika then intervened, saying these words.
वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं वृणोमि जनमेजय। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगाः
If you grant me a boon, O Janamejaya, I choose this: let your sacrifice cease, and let no more serpents fall here.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मन्पारिक्षितस्तु सः। नातिहृष्टमनाश्चेदमास्तीकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by him, the son of Parikshit, though not pleased in his heart, spoke these words to Astika.
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च यच्चान्यन्मन्यसे विभो। तत्ते दद्यां वरं विप्र न निवर्तेत्क्रतुर्मम
Gold, silver, cows, and whatever else you desire, O illustrious one, I shall give you as a boon, O Brahmin, but let my sacrifice not be stopped.