यदासौ प्रार्थ्यतेऽरण्ये यत्किञ्चित्प्रवदिष्यति
Whenever he is sought in the forest, whatever he says must be spoken.
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा वासुकिं प्रणिपत्य च
Hearing the words of the grandsire, and bowing to Vāsuki,
तच्छ्रुत्वा पन्नगाः सर्वे प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनाः
Upon hearing this, all the serpents had eyes wide with joy.
अप्लवे तु निमग्नानां घोरे यज्ञाग्निसागरे
Those who were submerged in the dreadful ocean of sacrificial fire,
श्रुत्वा स चाग्निराजानमृत्विजस्तदनंतरम्
Hearing this, the king of fire and the priests then—
पञ्चम्यां तच्च भविता ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच लेलिहान्
On the fifth day, that will come to pass, said Brahmā, licking his lips.
नागानां हर्षजननी दत्ता वै ब्रह्मणा पुरा
Long ago, Brahmā gave a boon that brings joy to the serpents.
विसृज्य नागाः प्रीयंतां ये केचित्पृथिवीतले ये नदीषु महानागा ये सरःस्वभिगामिनः
Let the serpents depart in peace—those upon the earth, those great serpents in the rivers, and those who go into the lakes.
ये वापीषु तडागेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वै नमः ।।4.36.
And those in wells and ponds—homage to all of them.
नागान्विप्रांश्च संपूज्य विसृज्य च यथार्थतः
Having honored the serpents and the brāhmaṇas, let them be released as is proper.
पूर्वं मधुरमश्नीयात्स्वेच्छया तदनंत रम्
First, let him eat something sweet as he wishes, and then enjoy endlessly.
मृतो नागपुरं याति पूज्यमानोऽप्सरोगणैः
When he dies, he goes to the city of serpents, honored by hosts of apsarases.
इह चागत्य राजासौ सर्वराजवरो भवेत्
Having come here, that king becomes the foremost among all kings.
पञ्चजन्मन्यसौ राजा द्वापरेद्वापरे भवेत् तस्मात्पूज्याश्च नागाश्च घृतक्षीरादिना सदा
In five births, that one will be a king in each Dvapara age; therefore, serpents are always to be honored with ghee, milk, and the like.
भवेत्किं तस्य दष्टस्य विस्तराद्ब्रूहि मां हरे
What becomes of one who has been bitten? Tell me in detail, O Hari.
अधो गत्वा भवेत्सर्पो निर्विषो नात्र संशयः
Having gone below, he becomes a serpent without venom—of this there is no doubt.
स्वसा वा दुहिता भार्या किं कर्तव्यं वदस्व मे
If it is a sister, daughter, or wife—what should be done? Tell me.
मोक्षाय तस्य गोविन्द दानं व्रतमुपोषितम्
For his liberation, O Govinda, charity and the observance of a vow are to be performed.
वर्षमेकं तु राजेन्द्र विधानं शृणु यादृशम् ।। 4.36.
O king of kings, listen to the procedure to be followed for one year.
मासे भाद्रपदे या तु शुक्लपक्षे महीपते
In the month of Bhādrapada, during the bright fortnight, O ruler of the earth,
ज्ञेया द्वादश वर्षांते पञ्चम्यो भरतर्षभ
Know that on the fifth day at the end of twelve years, O best of the Bharatas,
भूरिचन्द्रमयं नागमथवा कलधौतजम्
A serpent made of much silver, or else of refined gold,
पञ्चम्यामर्चयेद्भक्त्या नागं पञ्चफणं शृणु
On the fifth day, with devotion, one should worship a serpent with five hoods—listen.
गन्धपुष्पैः सनैवेद्यैः पूज्य पन्नगसत्तमम्
The best of serpents should be worshipped with fragrances, flowers, and offerings of food.
नारायणबलिः कार्यः सर्पदष्टस्य देहिनः
A sacrifice to Nārāyaṇa should be performed for the person bitten by a serpent.
वृषोत्सर्गस्तु कर्तव्यो गते संवत्सरे नृप
The release of a bull should be performed at the end of the year, O king.
अनंतो वासुकिः शेषः पद्मः कम्बल एव च ४८ धृतराष्ट्रः शंखपालः कालियस्तक्षकस्तथा वत्सरांते पारणं स्यान्महाब्राह्मणभोजनम्
Ananta, Vāsuki, Śeṣa, Padma, Kambala, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śaṅkhapāla, Kāliya, and Takṣaka—at the end of the year, there should be a concluding rite and a feast for great Brāhmaṇas.
इतिहासविदे नागः कांचनेन कृतो नृप 4.36.
O king, a serpent known from history should be made of gold.
एष पारणके पार्थ विधिः प्रोक्तो विचक्षणैः
O Pārtha, this is the procedure for the concluding rite as declared by the wise.
ये दन्दशूकरदनैर्दष्टाः प्राप्ता ह्यधोगतिम् दांष्ट्रिकं मोक्ष्यते तेषां शुभं स्थानमवाप्स्यति
Those who have been bitten by fanged boars and have fallen to a lower state—the fanged one is released for them, and they will attain an auspicious place.