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.'
असितं चार्तिमन्तं च सुनीथं चापि यः स्मरेत्। दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ नास्य सर्पभयं भवेत्
Whoever remembers Asita, Ārtimant, and also Sunītha, whether by day or by night, shall have no fear of serpents.
यो जरत्कारुणा जातो जरत्कारौ महावशाः। आस्तीकः सर्पसत्रे वः पन्नगान्योऽभ्यरक्षत। तं स्मरन्तं महाभागा न मां हिंसितुमर्हथ
O serpents, he who was born of Jaratkāru and the mighty Jaratkāru, Āstīka, who protected you at the serpent sacrifice—remembering him, O blessed ones, you must not harm me.
सर्पापसर्प भद्रं ते गच्छ सर्प महाविष। जनेमेजयस्य यज्ञान्ते आस्तीकवचनं स्मर
O serpent, withdraw, blessings to you; go away, great venomous one. At the end of Janamejaya's sacrifice, remember the words of Āstīka.
आस्तीकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा यः सर्पो न निवर्तते। शतधा भिद्यते मूर्धा शिंशवृक्षफलं यथा
Any serpent who, after hearing the words of Āstīka, does not turn back, his head will split into a hundred pieces like the fruit of the Śiṃśapā tree.
स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा द्विजेन्द्रः समागतैस्तैर्भुजगेन्द्रमुख्यैः। संप्राप्य प्रीतिं विपुलां महात्मा ततो मनो गमनायाथ दध्रे
Thus addressed by those assembled foremost serpents, the best of twice-born, having received great satisfaction, then set his mind on departing.
इत्येवं नागराजोऽथ नागानां मध्यगस्तदा। उक्त्वा सहैव तैः सर्पैः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ
So then, the king of the nāgas, having spoken thus in the midst of the serpents, went to his own abode together with those serpents.
मोक्षयित्वा तु भुजगान्सर्पसत्राद्द्विजोत्तमः। जगाम काले धर्मात्मा दिष्टान्तं पुत्रपौत्रवान्
Having freed the serpents from the serpent sacrifice, the best of Brahmins, righteous-souled, went in due time to his end, surrounded by sons and grandsons.
इत्याख्यानं मयास्तीकं यथावत्तव कीर्तितम्। यत्कीर्तयित्वा सर्पेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित्
Thus I have recounted to you the story of Āstīka as it happened; by reciting it, there is nowhere any fear from serpents.
यथा कथितवान्ब्रह्मन्प्रमतिः पूर्वजस्तव। पुत्राय रुरवे प्रीतः पृच्छते भार्गवोत्तम
Just as your ancestor Pramati, pleased, told this to his son Ruru when asked, O best of Bhārgavas, so have I related it to you.
यद्वाक्यं श्रुतवांश्चाहं तथा च कथितं मया। आस्तीकस्य कवेर्विप्र श्रीमच्चरितमादितः
What I have heard, I have told accordingly—the glorious story of Āstīka, the sage, from the beginning, O Brahmin.