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.
अष्टावक्रः कोमलकः श्वसनो मौनवेपगः।' भैरवो मुण्डवेदाङ्गः पिशङ्गश्चोदपारकः। ऋषभो वेगवान्नागः पिण्डारकमहाहनू
Ashtavakra, Komalaka, Shvasana, Maunavepaga, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pishanga, Udaparaka, Rishabha, Vegavan, Pindaraka, and Mahahanu.
रक्ताङ्गः सर्वसारङ्गः समृद्धपटवासकौ। वराहको वीरणकः सुचित्रश्चित्रवेगिकः
Raktanga, Sarvasaranga, Samriddhapatavasa, Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, and Citravegika.
पराशरस्तरुणको मणिः स्कन्धस्तथाऽऽरुणिः। इति नागा मया ब्रह्मन्कीर्तिताः कीर्तिवर्धनाः
Parashara, Tarunaka, Mani, Skandha, and Aruni—thus have I named, O Brahmin, the serpents who increase fame.
प्राधान्येन बहुत्वात्तु न सर्वे परिकीर्तिताः। एतेषां प्रसवो यश्च प्रसवस्य च सन्ततिः
Because of their great number, not all have been named here; these are the principal ones, along with their offspring and descendants.
न शक्यं परिसंख्यातुं ये दीप्तं पावकं गताः। `द्विशीर्षाः पञ्चशीर्षाश्च सप्तशीर्षास्तथाऽपरे। दशशीर्षाः शतशीर्षास्तथान्ये बहुशीर्षकाः
It is not possible to count those who entered the blazing fire—some with two heads, some with five, others with seven, ten, a hundred, and many with countless heads.
कालानलविषा घोरा हुताः शतसहस्रशः। महाकाया महावेगाः शैलशृङ्गसमुच्छ्रयाः
Terrible beings, like the fires of destruction and deadly poison, were offered by the hundreds of thousands—great in size, swift in force, towering like mountain peaks.
योजनायामविस्तारा द्वियोजनसमायताः। कामरूपाः कामबला दीप्तानलविषोल्बणाः
Their bodies stretched a yojana in length and two yojanas in breadth; they could assume forms at will, possessed strength as they wished, and blazed with fierce fire and poison.
दग्धास्तत्र महासत्रे ब्रह्मदण्डनिपाडिताः
All those were burned there at the great sacrifice, struck down by the rod of Brahma.
इदमत्यद्भुतं चान्यदास्तीकस्यानुशुश्रुम। तथा वरैश्छन्द्यमाने राज्ञा पारिक्षितेन हि
We have also heard this other most wondrous tale about Astika: when the king Parikshit was granting boons as he pleased.
इन्द्रहस्ताच्च्युतो नागः ख एव यदतिष्ठत। ततश्चिन्तापरो राजा बभूव जनमेजयः
The serpent, slipping from Indra’s hand, remained suspended in the sky; then King Janamejaya became filled with anxious thought.
हूयमाने भृशं दीप्ते विधिवद्वसुरेतसि। न स्म स प्रापतद्वह्नौ तक्षको भयपीडितः
Though the sacrifice was being performed with great fervor and proper rites, Takshaka, afflicted by fear, did not fall into the fire.
किं सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम्। न प्रत्यभात्तदाऽग्नौ यत्स पपात न तक्षकः
O Suta, what was the reason, among those wise Brahmins and their collection of mantras, that Takshaka did not fall into the fire at that time?
तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्वित्रस्तं विसंज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम्। आस्तीकस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत्
Astika then called out three times to the best of serpents, terrified and senseless, as he hung from Indra’s hand: 'Stop! Stop! Stop!'
वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षे च हृदयेन विदूयता। यथा तिष्ठति वै कश्चित्खं च गां चान्तरा नरः
He remained suspended in the air, his heart torn with distress, just as a man stands between the earth and the sky.
ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम्। काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम्
Then, urged strongly by the assembly, the king spoke these words: 'Let it be as Astika has said.'
समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः। प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत्
'Let this rite be completed; let the serpents be comforted; let Astika be pleased; let the Suta’s words be fulfilled.'
ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिजः समजायत। आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च
Then a sound of joy, like a tumult, arose when Astika’s boon was granted, and the sacrifice ceased at once.
स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह। प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः
That sacrifice of the Pandava king Parikshit thus ended, and King Janamejaya of the Bharatas became filled with joy.
ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः। तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
To the priests and the assembly, and all who had gathered there, he gave wealth in hundreds and thousands.
लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः। येनोक्तं तस्य तत्राग्रे सर्पसत्रनिवर्तने
To the red-eyed Suta and to the architect, the mighty king gave gifts, for they had spoken before about ending the serpent sacrifice.