शौनक उवाच सर्पसत्रे तदा राज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य धीमतः। जनमेजयस्य के त्वासऋत्विजः परमर्षयः॥
Shaunaka said: Who were the great Rishis that became the Ritvijas in the Snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava dynasty?
के सदस्या बभूवुश्च सर्पसत्रे सुदारुणे। विषादजननेऽत्यर्थं पन्नगानां महाभये॥
Who became the Sadasyas in that terrible Snake-sacrifice, so fearful to the snakes and so sorrowful to them?
सर्वं विस्तरशस्तात भवाञ्छंसितुमर्हति। सर्पसत्रविधानज्ञविज्ञेयाः के च सूतज॥
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.
सौतिरुवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नामानीह मनीषिणाम्। ये ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च तस्यासन्नृपतेस्तदा॥
Sauti said : I shall tell you the names of those wise men who became the Ritvijas and Sadasyas of the king.
तत्र होता बभूवाथ ब्राह्मणश्चण्डभार्गवः। च्यवनस्यान्वये ख्यातो जातो वेदविदां वरः॥
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.
उद्गाता ब्राह्मणो वृद्धो विद्वान्कौत्सोऽथ जैमिनिः। ब्रह्माऽभूच्छाईरवोऽथाध्वर्युश्चापि पिङ्गलः॥
This learned old Brahmana, Kautsa became the Udgata, Jaimini became the Brahma, Shranagarava and Pingala became the Adhvaryus.
सदस्यश्चाभवद्व्यासः पुत्रशिष्यसहायवान्। उद्दालकः प्रमतकः श्वेतकेतुश्च पिङ्गलः॥ असितो देवलश्चैव नारदः पर्वतस्तथा। आत्रेयः कुण्डजठरौ द्विजः कालघटस्तथा॥ वात्स्यः श्रुतश्रवा वृद्धो जपस्वाध्यायशीलवान्। कोहलो देवशर्मा च मौद्गल्यः समसौरभः॥
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.
एते चान्ये च बहवो ब्राह्मणा: वेदपारगाः। सदस्याश्चाभवंस्तत्र सत्रे पारिक्षितस्य ह॥
These and many others, who were vastly learned in the Vedas, became the Sadasyas in the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit.
जुह्वत्स्वृत्विक्ष्वथ तदा सर्पसत्रे महाक्रतौ। अहयः प्रापतस्तत्र घोराः प्राणिभयावहाः॥
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.
वसामेदोवहाः कुल्या नागानां संप्रवर्तिताः। ववौ गन्धश्च तुमुलो दह्यतामनिशं तदा॥
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.
पततां चैव नागानां घिष्ठितानां तथाम्बरे। अश्रूयतानिशं शब्दः पच्यतां चाग्निना भृशम्॥
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.
तक्षकस्तु स नागेन्द्रः पुरंदरनिवेशनम्। गतः श्रुत्वैव राजानं दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्॥
In the meanwhile, as soon as Takshaka heard that Janamejaya had been installed in the sacrifice, he, the king of snakes, went to Indra.
ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तमाख्याय भुजगोत्तमः। अगच्छच्छरणं भीत आगस्कृत्वा पुरंदरम्॥
That best of snakes told every thing to Indra and having acknowledged his fault, asked his protection in fear,
तमिन्द्रः प्राह सुप्रीतो न तवास्तीह तक्षक। भयं नागेन्द्र तस्माद्वै सर्पसत्रात्कदाचन॥
Indra, being much pleased, told him, “0 i Takshaka, o king of the snakes, you have nothing to fear here from the snake-sacrifice.
प्रसादितो मया पूर्वं तवार्थाय पितामहः। तस्मात्तव भयं नास्ति व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः॥
The Grandfather was pacified by me for your sake. Therefore, you have no fear. Drive away this fever of fear from your mind.”
सौतिरुवाच एवमाश्वासितस्तेन ततः स भुजगोत्तमः। उवास भवने तस्मिञ्च्छक्रस्य मुदितः सुखी॥
Thus being encouraged by him, the best of snakes, Takshaka, lived in Indra's abode in joy and happiness.
अजस्रं निपतत्स्वग्नौ नागेषु भृशदुःखितः। अल्पशेषपरीवारो वासुकिः पर्यतप्यत॥ कश्मलं चाविशद् घोरं वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। स घूर्णमानहृदयो भगिनीमिदमब्रवीत्॥
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,
दह्यन्त्यङ्गानि मे भद्रे न दिशः प्रतिभान्ति च। सीदामीव च संमोहात् घूर्णतीव च मे मनः॥
“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.
दृष्टिर्भ्राम्यति मेतीव हृदयं दीर्यतीव च। पतिष्याम्यवशोऽद्याहं तस्मिन्दीप्ते विभावसौ॥
My sight is falling, my heart is trembling. Being be-numbed, I may fall into the blazing fire (of the sacrifice) today.
पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञोऽसौ वर्ततेऽस्मज्जिघांसया। व्यक्तं मयाऽपि गन्तव्यं प्रेतराजनिवेशनम्॥
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.
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो यदर्थमसि मे स्वसः। जरत्कारी मया दत्ता त्रायस्वास्मान्सबान्धवान्॥
That time has come, O sister, for which I bestowed you on the Rishi Jaratkaru; O sister, protect us with all our race.
आस्तीकः किल यज्ञं तं वर्तन्तं भुजगोत्तमे। प्रतिषेत्स्यति मां पूर्वं स्वयमाह पितामहः॥
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.
तद्वत्से ब्रूहि वत्सं स्वं कुमारं वृद्धसंमतम्। ममाद्य त्वं सभृत्यस्य मोक्षार्थं वेदवित्तमम्॥
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.