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.
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च न त्वां राजन्वृणोम्यहम्। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्स्वस्ति मातृकुलस्य नः
Gold, silver, cows—I do not ask these from you, O king; let your sacrifice cease—may there be well-being for my mother's lineage.
आस्तीकेनैवमुक्तस्तु राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा। पुनःपुनरुवाचेदमास्तीकं वदतां वरः
Thus addressed by Astika, King Parikshita repeatedly said to Astika, the best of speakers:
अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं द्विज्वरोत्तम। अयाचत न चाप्यन्यं वरं स भृगुनन्दन
Choose another boon, good sir, O best of twice-born; but Astika, son of Bhrigu, did not ask for any other boon.
ततो वेदविदस्तात सदस्याः सर्व एव तम्। राजानमूचुः सहिता लभतां ब्राह्मणो वरम्
Then, O dear one, all the learned Vedic scholars present there said together to the king: 'Let the Brahmin obtain his boon.'
ये सर्पाः सर्पसत्रेऽस्मिन्पतिता हव्यवाहने। तेषां नामानि सर्वेषां श्रोतुमिच्छामि सूतज
Of the serpents who fell into the sacrificial fire at this serpent-sacrifice, I wish to hear the names of them all, O son of Suta.
सहस्राणि बहून्यस्मिन्प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। न शक्यं परिसंख्यातुं बहुत्वाद्द्विजसत्तम
Thousands, tens of thousands, and crores perished here; it is not possible to enumerate them all because of their great number, O best of Brahmins.
यथास्मृति तु नामानि पन्नगानां निबोध मे। उच्यमानानि मुख्यानां हुतानां जातवेदसि
Now, listen as I recite the names of the principal serpents, as remembered, who were offered into the fire.
वासुकेः कुलजातांस्तु प्राधान्येन निबोध मे। नीलरक्तान्सितान्घोरान्महाकायान्विषोल्बणान्
Hear from me, in order of prominence, the noble-born serpents of Vasuki’s line—dark, red, white, fierce, massive, and brimming with venom.
अवशान्मातृवाग्दण्डपीडितान्कृपणान्हूतान्। कोटिशो मानसः पूर्णः शलः पालो हलीमकः
Helpless, tormented by their mothers’ words and the rod, pitiable, they were summoned—Shala, Pala, Halimaka, Picchala, Manasa, and countless others.
पिच्छलः कौणपश्चक्रः कालवेगः प्रकालनः। हिरण्यबाहुः शरणः कक्षकः कालदन्तकः
Picchala, Kaunapa, Chakra, Kalavega, Prakalana, Hiranyabahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, and Kaladantaka.
एते वासुकिजा नागाः प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहने। अन्ये च बहवो विप्र तथा वै कुलसंभवाः। प्रदीप्ताग्नौ हुताःसर्वे घोररूपा महाबलाः
These serpents of Vasuki’s line entered the sacrificial fire; and many others, O Brahmin, born in that family, all fierce in form and great in might, were offered into the blazing flames.
तक्षकस्य कुले जातान्प्रवक्ष्यामि निबोध तान्। पुच्छाण्डको मण्डलकः पिण्डसेक्ता रभेणकः
Now I will tell you the names of those born in Takshaka’s line—listen: Pucchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasekta, and Rabhenaka.
उच्छिखः शरभो भङ्गो बिल्वतेजा विरोहणः। शिली शलकरो मूकः सुकुमारः प्रवेपनः
Ucchikha, Sharabha, Bhanga, Bilvateja, Virohana, Shili, Shalakar, Muka, Sukumara, and Pravepana.
मुद्गरः शिशुरोमा च सुरोमा च महाहनुः। एते तक्षकजा नागाः प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम्
Mudgara, Shishuroma, Suroma, and Mahahanu—these serpents of Takshaka’s line entered the sacrificial fire.
पारावतः पारियात्रः पाण्डरो हरिणः कृशः। विहङ्गः शरभो मोदः प्रमोदः संहतापनः
Paravata, Pariyatra, Pandara, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabha, Moda, Pramoda, and Samhatapana.
ऐरावतकुलादेते प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम्। कौरव्यकुलजान्नागाञ्शृणु मे त्वं द्विजोत्तम
These, born in the line of Airavata, entered the sacrificial fire. Now hear from me, O best of Brahmins, the serpents born in the Kauravya line.
एरकः कुण्डलो वेणी वेणीस्कन्धः कुमारकः। बाहुकः शृङ्गबेरश्च धूर्तकः प्रातरातकौ
Eraka, Kundala, Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Shringabera, Dhurtaka, and Pratarataka.
कौरव्यकुलजास्त्वेते प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम्। धृतराष्ट्रकुले जाताञ्शृणु नागान्यथातथम्
These, born in the Kauravya line, entered the sacrificial fire. Now hear, as is proper, the serpents born in the Dhritarashtra line.
कीर्त्यमानान्मया ब्रह्मन्वातवेगान्विषोल्बणान्। शङ्कुकर्णः पिठरकः कुठारमुखसेचकौ
I will name, O Brahmin, those renowned, swift as the wind and filled with venom: Shankukarna, Pitharaka, and Kutharamukhasechaka.
पूर्णाङ्गदः पूर्णमुखः प्रहासः शकुनिर्दरिः। अमाहठः कामठकः सुषेणो मानसोऽव्ययः
Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Shakuni, Dari, Amahattha, Kamathaka, Sushena, Manasa, and Avyaya.