Chapter 53
“Saunaka asked, ‘What great Rishis became the Ritwiks at thesnake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava line? Who alsobecame the Sadasyas in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to thesnakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth thee to describeall these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who wereacquainted with the rituals of the snake-sacrifice.’
“Sauti replied, ‘I will recite the names of those wise ones who becamethe monarch’s Ritwiks and Sadasyas. The Brahmana Chandabhargava becamethe Hotri in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born inthe race of Chyavana and was the foremost of those acquainted with theVedas. The learned old Brahmana, Kautsa, became the Udgatri, the chanterof the Vedic hymns. Jaimini became the Brahmana, and Sarngarva andPingala the Adhvaryus, Vyasa with his son and disciples, and Uddalaka,Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya,Kundajathara, the Brahmana Kalaghata, Vatsya, old Srutasravas everengaged in japa and the study of the Vedas. Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya,Samasaurava, and many other Brahmanas who had got through the Vedasbecame the Sadasyas at that sacrifice of the son of Parikshit.
“When the Ritwiks in that snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butterinto the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear into every creature, beganto fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus fallinginto the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled withan insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. Andincessant also were the cries of the snakes fallen into the fire andthose in the air about to fall into it.
‘Meanwhile, Takshaka, that prince of snakes, as soon as he heard thatking Janamejaya was engaged in the sacrifice, went to the palace ofPurandara (Indra). And that best of snakes, having represented all thathad taken place, sought in terror the protection of Indra after havingacknowledged his fault. And Indra, gratified, told him, ‘O prince ofsnakes, O Takshaka, here thou hast no fear from that snake-sacrifice. TheGrandsire was pacified by me for thy sake. Therefore, thou hast no fear.Let this fear of thy heart be allayed.’
Sauti continued, ‘Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began todwell in Indra’s abode in joy and happiness. But Vasuki, seeing that thesnakes were incessantly falling into the fire and that his family wasreduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of thesnakes was afflicted with great grief, and his heart was about to break.And summoning his sister, he spake unto her, saying, ‘O amiable one, mylimbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I amabout to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, mysight is falling and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall todayinto that blazing fire! This sacrifice of the son of Parikshit is for theextermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to theabode of the king of the dead. The time is come, O my sister, on accountof which thou wert bestowed by me on Jaratkaru to protect us with ourrelatives. O best of the women of the snake race, Astika will put an endto the sacrifice that is going on. The Grandsire told me this of old.Therefore, O child, solicit thy dear son who is fully conversant with theVedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself and alsoof those dependent on me.”‘
