पूर्वाह्णे चरते विप्रो मध्याह्ने क्षत्रियश्चरेत्
In the morning, a Brahmin should proceed; at midday, a Kshatriya should proceed.
आहारो वायुपुष्पाणि ब्राह्मणानां विदुर्बुधाः वैश्या मंडूकभक्षाश्च शूद्राः सर्वाशिनस्तथा ।।1.36.
The wise know that Brahmins eat air and flowers; Vaishyas eat frogs, and Shudras eat everything.
अग्रतो दशते विप्रः क्षत्रियो दक्षिणेन तु
The Brahmin bites in front; the Kshatriya bites on the right side.
मदकाले तु संप्राप्ते पीड्यमाना महाविषाः
When the time of intoxication arrives, the great venomous ones are afflicted.
पुष्पगंधाः स्मृता विप्राः क्षत्रियाश्चंदनावहाः
Brahmins are known to have the scent of flowers; Kshatriyas, the scent of sandalwood.
वासं तेषां प्रवक्ष्यामि यथावदनुपूर्वशः वसंति ब्राह्मणाः सर्पा ग्रामद्वारे चतुष्पथे
I will now describe their dwellings in proper order: Brahmin serpents dwell at the village gate and at crossroads.
आरामेषु पवित्रेषु शुचिष्वायतनेषु च
In gardens, in pure places, and in clean sanctuaries as well.
श्मशाने भस्मशालासु पलालेषु तटेषु च
In cremation grounds, in ash-heaps, in straw, and on riverbanks.
अविविक्तेषु स्थानेषु निर्जनेषु वनेषु च
In secluded places, in deserted spots, and in forests.
श्वेताश्च कपिलाश्चैव ये सर्पास्त्वनलप्रभाः
Those serpents who are white, tawny, or have the luster of fire—
रक्तवर्णाः सुवर्णाभाः प्रवालमणिसंनिभाः
Those who are red in color, golden-hued, or resemble coral and gems—
नानाविचित्रराजीभिरतसीवर्णसन्निभाः 1.36.
Those with various and wondrous stripes, resembling the color of flax—
काकोदरनिभाः केचिद्ये च अंजनसन्निभाः
Some resemble the belly of a crow, and some are like collyrium in appearance.
यस्य सर्पेण दष्टस्य दंशमंगुष्ठमंतरम्
If a person is bitten by a snake and the distance between the fang marks is a thumb’s width—
यस्य सर्पेण दष्टस्य दंशं द्व्यंगुलमंतरम्
If a person is bitten by a snake and the distance between the fang marks is two fingers’ width—
यस्य सर्पेण दष्टस्य सार्धं द्व्यंगुलमzतरम्
If a person is bitten by a snake and the distance between the fang marks is more than two fingers’ width—
अनंतः प्रेक्षते पूर्वं वामपार्श्वे तु वासुकिः
Ananta looks toward the east, while Vasuki is on the left side.
चलते भ्रमते पद्मो महापद्मो निमज्जति
Padma moves and wanders, and Mahapadma sinks down.
सर्वेषां कुरुते रूपं कुलिकः पन्नगोत्तमः
Kulika, the foremost among serpents, assumes the form of all.
दक्षिणा तक्षकस्योक्ता कर्कोटस्य तु नैर्ऋती उत्तरा शंखपालस्य ऐशानी कंबलस्य तु
The south is said to be Takshaka's, the southwest belongs to Karkotaka; the north is Shankhapala's, and the northeast is Kambala's.
अनंतस्य भवेत्पद्मं वासुकेः स्यात्तथोत्पलम्
A lotus belongs to Ananta, and a water-lily likewise to Vasuki.
पद्मस्य तु भवेत्पद्मं शूलं पद्मेतरस्य तु 1.36.
A lotus belongs to Padma, and a spear to the one other than Padma.
अनंतकपिलौ विप्रौ क्षत्रियौ शंखवासुकी पद्मकर्कोटकौ शूद्रौ सदा ज्ञेयौ मनीषिभिः
Ananta and Kapila are Brahmins, Shankha and Vasuki are Kshatriyas; Padma and Karkotaka are Shudras, always to be known as such by the wise.
अनंतकुलिकौ वर्णतो ब्रह्मसंभवौ
Ananta and Kulika, by caste, are born from Brahma.
तक्षकश्च महापद्म ईषत्पीतौ बभूवतुः
Takshaka and Mahapadma became slightly yellowish.
हयं यानं वृषं छत्रं राजानमथ पावकम्
A horse, a vehicle, a bull, an umbrella, a king, and fire.
पूर्णकुम्भः पताका च कांचनं मणयस्तथा एतेषां दर्शनं श्रेष्ठं कन्या चैकप्रसूयिका
A full water pot, a banner, gold, and jewels; the sight of these is best, and a maiden born from one mother.
चतुःषष्टिः समाख्याता भोगिनो ये तु पन्नगाः । अदृश्यास्तेषु षट्त्रिंशद्दृश्यास्त्रिंशन्महीचराः
Sixty-four serpents are named as enjoyers; among them, thirty-six are invisible, and thirty move upon the earth.
विंशच्च स्रग्विणः प्रोक्ताः सप्त मंडलिनस्तथा । राजीवन्तो दश प्रोक्ता दर्व्यः षोडश पंच च
Twenty are said to be garlanded, seven are circular, ten are lotus-like, and sixteen plus five are called Darvyas.
दुंदुभो डुंडुभश्चैव चेटभश्चेंद्रवाहनः एवमेव तु सर्पाणां शतद्विनवति स्मृतम्
Dundubha, Dundubha, Chetabha, and Indravahana; thus, among serpents, one hundred and ninety are remembered.