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.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि महदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। कृष्णद्वैपायनमतं महाभारतमादितः
Indeed, I shall narrate to you the great and excellent story, the Mahabharata, as taught by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the beginning.
शृणु सर्वमशेषेण कथ्यमानं मया द्विज। शंसितुं तन्महान्हर्षो ममापीह प्रवर्तते
Hear everything in its entirety as I narrate, O twice-born; great joy arises in me here to proclaim it.
श्रुत्वा तु सर्पसत्राय दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्। अभ्यगच्छदृषिर्विद्वान्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
Having heard that Janamejaya was consecrated for the snake-sacrifice, the learned sage Krishna Dvaipayana then approached him.
जनयामास यं काली शक्तेः पुत्रात्पराशरात्। कन्यैव यमुनाद्वीपे पाण्डवानां पितामहम्
Whom Kali bore from Parashara, son of Shakti, as a maiden on the island of Yamuna, the grandsire of the Pandavas.
जातमात्रश्च यः सद्य इष्ट्या देहमवीवृधत्। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गन्सेतिहासान्महायशाः
And as soon as he was born, by sacrifice he grew his body; he mastered the Vedas with their branches and the histories, being greatly renowned.
यं नाति तपसा कश्चिन्न वेदाध्ययनेन च। न व्रतैर्नोपवासैश्च न प्रसूत्या न मन्युना
Whom no one attained by austerity, nor by study of the Vedas, nor by vows or fasts, nor by birth, nor by anger.
विव्यासैकं चतुर्धा यो वेदं वेदविदां वरः। परावरज्ञो ब्रह्मर्षिः कविः सत्यव्रतः शुचिः
He, the foremost among knowers of the Veda, divided the single Veda into four; knower of the higher and lower, a Brahmarshi, a poet, truthful and pure.
यः पाण्डुं धृतराष्ट्रं च विदुरं चाप्यजीजनत्। शन्तनोः संततिं तन्वन्पुण्यकीर्तिर्महायशाः
He who begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, extending the lineage of Shantanu, of virtuous fame and great renown.
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः स महात्मा सदस्तथा। विवेश सहितः शिष्यैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः
That great-souled sage entered the assembly of King Janamejaya, accompanied by his disciples, who were masters of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas.
तत्र राजानमासीनं ददर्श जनमेजयम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्देवैरिव पुरन्दरम्
There he saw King Janamejaya seated, surrounded by many members of the assembly, like Indra among the gods.