Astika Parva — Story of the snake-sacrifice

Shaunaka said: Who were the great Rishis that became the Ritvijas in the Snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava dynasty?

Who became the Sadasyas in that terrible Snake-sacrifice, so fearful to the snakes and so sorrowful to them?

O child, you should describe all this in detail, so that, O Sauti, we may know who were acquainted with the rituals of the Snakesacrifice.

Sauti said : I shall tell you the names of those wise men who became the Ritvijas and Sadasyas of the king.

The Brahmana, named Chanda Bhargava, born in the race of Chyavana, greatly illustrious and the foremost man amongst all the learned in the Vedas, became the Hota in that sacrifice.

This learned old Brahmana, Kautsa became the Udgata, Jaimini became the Brahma, Shranagarava and Pingala became the Adhvaryus.

Vyasa with his sons and disciples, Uddalaka, Pramataka, Shvetaketu, Pingala Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajathara, Kalaghata, Vatsya, old Shrutashrava, ever engaged in Japa and the study of the Vedas, Kohala, Devasharınan, Maudgalya, Samasaurabha.

These and many others, who were vastly learned in the Vedas, became the Sadasyas in the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit.

When the Ritvijas began to offer ghee in the fire in that Snake-sacrifice, fearful snakes, striking fear into every creature, began to fall into its fire.

The fat and the marrow of the snakes, thus burnt in the sacrificial fire, flowed like rivers and the whole atmosphere was filled with an insufferable stench, owing to this continual burning of the snakes.

Incessant were the piteous cries of the snakes that fell into the fire and of those that were in the air about to fall into it.

In the meanwhile, as soon as Takshaka heard that Janamejaya had been installed in the sacrifice, he, the king of snakes, went to Indra.

That best of snakes told every thing to Indra and having acknowledged his fault, asked his protection in fear,

Indra, being much pleased, told him, “0 i Takshaka, o king of the snakes, you have nothing to fear here from the snake-sacrifice.

The Grandfather was pacified by me for your sake. Therefore, you have no fear. Drive away this fever of fear from your mind.”

Thus being encouraged by him, the best of snakes, Takshaka, lived in Indra's abode in joy and happiness.

Here did Vasuki become exceedingly sorry, seeing that the snakes were continually falling into the fire and that his race had been reduced to only a few. That best of the snakes were confounded with grief and thus spoke to his sister,

“O amiable sister, my body is burning. I can no longer see the points of the heavens. I am about to fall owing to the loss of consciousness. My mind is whirling.

My sight is falling, my heart is trembling. Being be-numbed, I may fall into the blazing fire (of the sacrifice) today.

This sacrifice of the son of Parikshit is begun for the extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have (soon) to go to the land of the dead.

That time has come, O sister, for which I bestowed you on the Rishi Jaratkaru; O sister, protect us with all our race.

O best of the women of the snake race,। Astika will put an end to this sacrifice which is being performed. The Grandsire himself told me this in time gone by.

Therefore, O sister, ask your dear son, who is exceedingly learned in the Vedas and respected even by the old, to protect me and those dependent on me.