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.
यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान्ब्रह्मञ्श्रुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम्। व्येतु ते सुमहद्ब्रह्मन्कौतूहलमरिन्दम
O Brahman, that which you have asked me, having heard the words of Dundubha, let your great curiosity be dispelled, O subduer of enemies.
श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम्। `सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात्
Having heard the righteous tale of Astika, which increases merit, one becomes freed from all sin and attains long life.
भृगुवंशात्प्रभृत्येव त्वया मे कीर्तितं महत्। आख्यानमखिलं तात सौते प्रीतोऽस्मितेन ते
From the lineage of Bhrigu onward, you have recounted to me the great narrative; O Saute, I am pleased by your telling.
प्रक्ष्यामि चैव भूयस्त्वां यथावत्सूतनन्दन। याः कथा व्याससंपन्नास्ताश्च भूयो विचक्ष्व मे
I shall further question you, O son of Suta, as is proper; those stories composed by Vyasa, please narrate them to me again.
तस्मिन्परमदुष्पारे सर्पसत्रे महात्मनाम्। कर्मान्तरेषु यज्ञस्य सदस्यानां तथाऽध्वरे
In that exceedingly difficult snake-sacrifice of the great souls, among the rituals of the sacrifice and the members of the assembly,
या बभूवुः कथाश्चित्रा येष्वर्थेषु यथातथम्। त्वत्त इच्छामहे श्रोतुं सौते त्वं वै प्रचक्ष्व नः
Whatever wondrous stories arose there, according to their subjects, we wish to hear from you, O Saute; please recount them to us.
कर्मान्तरेष्वकथयन्द्विजा वेदाश्रयाः कथाः। व्यासस्त्वकथयच्चित्रमाख्यानं भारतं महत्
Among the rituals, the twice-born recited stories based on the Vedas; but Vyasa narrated the wondrous, great tale of the Bharata.
महाभारतमाख्यानं पाण्डवानां यशस्करम्। जनमेजयेन पृष्टः सन्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
The narrative of the Mahabharata, which brings fame to the Pandavas, was then recounted by Krishna Dvaipayana when questioned by Janamejaya.
श्रावयामास विधिवत्तदा कर्मान्तरे तु सः। तामहं विधिवत्पुण्यां श्रोतुमिच्छामि वै कथाम्
He made it heard properly at that time during the rituals; I wish to hear that auspicious tale in the proper manner.
मनःसागरसंभूतां महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः। कथयस्व सतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वरत्नमयीमिमाम्
Born from the ocean of the mind of the great sage of purified soul, narrate this story, O best among the virtuous, which is filled with all gems.