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.
निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु। दत्त्वा द्रव्यं यथान्यायं भोजनाच्छादनान्वितम्
To the Brahmin who was the cause, he gave much wealth; having given the proper gifts, with food and clothing as was right.
प्रीतस्तस्मै नरपतिरप्रमेयपराक्रमः। ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
The king, of immeasurable prowess, was pleased with him; then he performed the concluding bath, as prescribed by the rite.
आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम्। राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम्
The king, his mind pleased and satisfied, sent Āstīka, who was accomplished and wise, back to his home.
पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत्। भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ
He also spoke these words to him: 'You must return again; you shall be a participant in my great horse sacrifice.'
तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव तदास्तीको मुदा युतः। कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम्
Saying 'So be it,' Āstīka departed joyfully, having accomplished his unparalleled task and pleased the king.
स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातुलं मातरं च ताम्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य तथा वृत्तं न्यवेदयत्
He went, exceedingly delighted, to his maternal uncle and his mother, approached them, embraced them, and reported all that had happened.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणाः समेता ये तत्रासन्पन्नगा वीतमोहाः। आस्तीके वै प्रीतिमन्तो बभूवु- रूचुश्चैनं वरमिष्टं वृमीष्व
Hearing this, all the assembled serpents there, freed from delusion, became pleased with Āstīka and said to him, 'Choose a boon as you wish.'
भूयोभूयः सर्वशस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तं किं ते प्रियं करवामाद्य विद्वन्। प्रीता वयं मोक्षिताश्चैव सर्वे कामं किं ते करवामाद्य वत्स
Again and again, all the serpents said to him, 'O wise one, what shall we do for you today that is pleasing? We are delighted and all have been freed; tell us, dear child, what we may do for you today.'
सायं प्रातर्ये प्रसन्नात्मरूपा लोके विप्रा मानवा ये परेऽपि। धर्माख्यानं ये पठेयुर्ममेदं तेषां युष्मन्नैव किंचिद्भयं स्यात्
In the evening and morning, those Brahmins and men of pure mind, and even others in the world, who recite this account of righteousness of mine—let there be no fear from you for them.
तैश्चाप्युक्तो भागिनेयः प्रसन्नै- रेतत्सत्यं काममेवं वरं ते। प्रीत्या युक्ताः कामितं सर्वशस्ते कर्तारः स्म प्रवणा भागिनेय
The delighted serpents also said to the nephew, 'So be it, this boon is granted to you in truth. Out of affection, we are ready to do whatever you desire, O nephew.'