Chapter 42
“Sauti said, ‘And Sringin then replied to his father, saying, ‘Whetherthis be an act of rashness, O father, or an improper act that I havedone, whether thou likest it or dislikest it, the words spoken by meshall never be in vain. O father, I tell thee (a curse) can never beotherwise. I have never spoken a lie even in jest.’
“And Samika said, ‘Dear child, I know that thou art of great prowess, andtruthful in speech. Thou hast never spoken falsehood before, so that thycurse shall never be falsified. The son, even when he attaineth to age,should yet be always counselled by the father, so that crowned with goodqualities he may acquire great renown. A child as thou art, how much moredost thou stand in need of counsel? Thou art ever engaged in asceticpenances. The wrath of even the illustrious ones possessing the sixattributes increaseth greatly. O thou foremost of ordinance-observingpersons, seeing that thou art my son and a minor too, and beholding alsothy rashness, I see that I must counsel thee. Live thou, O son, inclinedto peace and eating fruits and roots of the forest. Kill this thy angerand destroy not the fruit of thy ascetic acts in this way. Wrath surelydecreaseth the virtue that ascetics acquire with great pains. And thenfor those deprived of virtue, the blessed state existeth not.Peacefulness ever giveth success to forgiving ascetics. Therefore,becoming forgiving in thy temper and conquering thy passions, shouldstthou always live. By forgiveness shalt thou obtain worlds that are beyondthe reach of Brahman himself. Having adopted peacefulness myself, andwith a desire also for doing good as much as lies in my power, I must dosomething; even must I send to that king, telling him, ‘O monarch, thouhast been cursed by my son of tender years and undeveloped intellect, inwrath, at seeing thy act of disrespect towards myself.’
“Sauti continued, ‘And that great ascetic, observer of vows, moved bykindness, sent with proper instructions a disciple of his to kingParikshit. And he sent his disciple Gaurmukha of good manners and engagedalso in ascetic penances, instructing him to first enquire about thewelfare of the king and then to communicate the real message. And thatdisciple soon approached that monarch, the head of the Kuru race. And heentered the king’s palace having first sent notice of his arrival throughthe servant in attendance at the gate.
“And the twice-born Gaurmukha was duly worshipped by the monarch. Andafter resting for a while, he detailed fully to the king, in the presenceof his ministers, the words of Samika, of cruel import, exactly as he hadbeen instructed.’
“And Gaurmukha said, ‘O king of kings, there is a Rishi, Samika, by name,of virtuous soul, his passions under control, peaceful, and given up tohard ascetic devotions, living in thy dominions! By thee, O tiger amongmen, was placed on the shoulders of that Rishi observing at present thevow of silence, a dead snake, with the end of thy bow! He himself forgavethee that act. But his son could not. And by the latter hast thou todaybeen cursed, O king of kings, without the knowledge of his father, to theeffect that within seven nights hence, shall (the snake) Takshaka causethy death. And Samika repeatedly asked his son to save thee, but there isnone to falsify his son’s curse. And because he hath been unable topacify his son possessed by anger, therefore have I been sent to thee, Oking, for thy good!’
“And that king of the Kuru race, himself engaged in ascetic practices,having heard these cruel words and recollecting his own sinful act,became exceedingly sorry. And the king, learning that foremost of Rishisin the forest had been observing the vow of silence, was doubly afflictedwith sorrow and seeing the kindness of the Rishi Samika, and consideringhis own sinful act towards him, the king became very repentant. And theking looking like a very god, did not grieve so much for hearing of hisdeath as for having done that act to the Rishi.’
“And then the king sent away Gaurmukha, saying, ‘Let the worshipful one(Samika) be gracious to me!’ And when Gaurmukha had gone away, the king,in great anxiety, without loss of time, consulted his ministers. Andhaving consulted them, the king, himself wise in counsels, caused amansion to be erected upon one solitary column. It was well-guarded dayand night. And for its protection were placed there physicians andmedicines, and Brahmanas skilled in mantras all around. And the monarch,protected on all sides, discharged his kingly duties from that placesurrounded by his virtuous ministers. And no one could approach that bestof kings there. The air even could not go there, being prevented fromentering.
“And when the seventh day had arrived, that best of Brahmanas, thelearned Kasyapa was coming (towards the king’s residence), desirous oftreating the king (after the snake-bite). He had heard all that had takenplace, viz., that Takshaka, that first of snakes, would send that best ofmonarchs to the presence of Yama (Death). And he thought, I would curethe monarch after he is bit by that first of snakes. By that I may havewealth and may acquire virtue also.’ But that prince of snakes, Takshaka,in the form of an old Brahmana, saw Kasyapa approaching on his way, hisheart set upon curing the king. And the prince of snakes then spake untothat bull among Munis, Kasyapa, saying, ‘Whither dost thou go with suchspeed? What, besides, is the business upon which thou art intent?’
“And Kasyapa, thus addressed, replied, ‘Takshaka, by his poison, willtoday burn king Parikshit of the Kuru race, that oppressor of allenemies. I go with speed, O amiable one, to cure, without loss of time,the king of immeasurable prowess, the sole representative of the Pandavarace, after he is bit by the same Takshaka like to Agni himself inenergy.’ And Takshaka answered, ‘I am that Takshaka, O Brahmana, whoshall burn that lord of the earth. Stop, for thou art unable to cure onebit by me.’ And Kasyapa rejoined, ‘I am sure that, possessed (that I am)of the power of learning, going thither I shall cure that monarch bit bythee.'”
