Chapter 43

“Sauti said, ‘And Takshaka, after this, answered, ‘If, indeed, thou artable to cure any creature bitten by me, then, O Kasyapa, revive thou thistree bit by me. O best of Brahmanas, I burn this banian in thy sight. Trythy best and show me that skill in mantras of which thou hast spoken.’

“And Kasyapa said, If thou art so minded, bite thou then, O king ofsnakes, this tree. O snake, I shall revive it, though bit by thee.

“Sauti continued, ‘That king of snakes, thus addressed by the illustriousKasyapa, bit then that banian tree. And that tree, bit by the illustrioussnake, and penetrated by the poison of the serpent, blazed up all around.And having burnt the banian so, the snake then spake again unto Kasyapa,saying, ‘O first of Brahmanas, try thy best and revive this lord of theforest.’

“Sauti continued, ‘The tree was reduced to ashes by the poison of thatking of snakes. But taking up those ashes, Kasyapa spoke these words. ‘Oking of snakes, behold the power of my knowledge as applied to this lordof the forest! O snake, under thy very nose I shall revive it.’ And thenthat best of Brahmanas, the illustrious and learned Kasyapa, revived, byhis vidya, that tree which had been reduced to a heap of ashes. And firsthe created the sprout, then he furnished it with two leaves, and then hemade the stem, and then the branches, and then the full-grown tree withleaves and all. And Takshaka, seeing the tree revived by the illustriousKasyapa, said unto him, ‘It is not wonderful in thee that thou shouldstdestroy my poison or that of any one else like myself. O thou whosewealth is asceticism, desirous of what wealth, goest thou thither? Thereward thou hopest to have from that best of monarchs, even I will givethee, however difficult it may be to obtain it. Decked with fame as thouart, thy success may be doubtful on that king affected by a Brahmana’scurse and whose span of life itself hath been shortened. In that case,this blazing fame of thine that hath overspread the three worlds willdisappear like the Sun when deprived of his splendour (on the occasion ofthe eclipse).’

“Kasyapa said, ‘I go there for wealth, give it unto me, O snake, so thattaking thy gold. I may return.’ Takshaka replied, ‘O best of regenerateones, even I will give thee more than what thou expectest from that king.Therefore do not go.’

“Sauti continued, ‘That best of Brahmanas, Kasyapa, of great prowess andintelligence, hearing those words of Takshaka, sat in yoga meditationover the king. And that foremost of Munis, viz., Kasyapa, of greatprowess and gifted with spiritual knowledge, ascertaining that the periodof life of that king of the Pandava race had really run out, returned,receiving from Takshaka as much wealth as he desired.

“And upon the illustrious Kasyapa’s retracing his steps, Takshaka at theproper time speedily entered the city of Hastinapura. And on his way heheard that the king was living very cautiously, protected by means ofpoison-neutralising mantras and medicines.’

“Sauti continued, ‘The snake thereupon reflected thus, ‘The monarch mustbe deceived by me with power of illusion. But what must be the means?’Then Takshaka sent to the king some snakes in the guise of asceticstaking with them fruits, kusa grass, and water (as presents). AndTakshaka, addressing them, said, ‘Go ye all to the king, on the pretextof pressing business, without any sign of impatience, as if to make themonarch only accept the fruits and flowers and water (that ye shall carryas presents unto him).’

“Sauti continued, ‘Those snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, actedaccordingly. And they took to the king, Kusa grass and water, and fruits.And that foremost of kings, of great prowess, accepted those offerings.And after their business was finished, he said upto them, ‘Retire.’ Thenafter those snakes disguised as ascetics had gone away, the kingaddressed his ministers and friends, saying, ‘Eat ye, with me, all thesefruits of excellent taste brought by the ascetics.’ Impelled by Fate andthe words of the Rishi, the king, with his ministers, felt the desire ofeating those fruits. The particular fruit, within which Takshaka hadentered, was taken by the king himself for eating. And when he was eatingit, there appeared, O Saunaka, an ugly insect out of it, of shapescarcely discernible, of eyes black, and of coppery colour. And thatforemost of kings, taking that insect, addressed his councillors, saying,’The sun is setting; today I have no more tear from poison. Therefore,let this insect become Takshaka and bite me, so that my sinful act may beexpiated and the words of the ascetic rendered true.’ And thosecouncillors also, impelled by Fate, approved of that speech. And then themonarch smiled, losing his senses, his hour having come. And he quicklyplaced that insect on his neck. And as the king was smiling, Takshaka,who had (in the form of that insect) come out of the fruit that had beenoffered to the king, coiled himself round the neck of the monarch. Andquickly coiling round the king’s neck and uttering a tremendous roar,Takshaka, that lord of snakes, bit that protector of the earth.'”