( Parva continued)
" asked, 'What great Rishis became the Ritwiks at the snake-sacrifice of the wise king of the Pandava line? Who also became the Sadasyas in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to the snakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth behooves thee you to describe all these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who were acquainted with the rituals of the snake-sacrifice.'
" replied, 'I will recite the names of those wise ones who became the monarch's Ritwiks and Sadasyas. The Brahmana Chandabhargava became the Hotri in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born in the race of and was the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas. The learned old Brahmana, Kautsa, became the Udgatri, the chanter of the Vedic hymns. Jaimini became the Brahmana, and Sarngarva and Pingala the Adhvaryus, with his son and disciples, and Uddalaka, Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, , Parvata, Atreya, Kundajathara, the Brahmana Kalaghata, Vatsya, old Srutasravas ever engaged in japa and the study of the Vedas. Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya, Samasaurava, and many other Brahmanas who had got through the Vedas became the Sadasyas at that sacrifice of the son of .
"When the Ritwiks in that snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butter into the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear into every creature, began to fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus falling into the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled with an insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. And incessant also were the cries of the snakes fallen into the fire and those in the air about to fall into it.
'Meanwhile, , that prince of snakes, as soon as he heard that king was engaged in the sacrifice, went to the palace of (). And that best of snakes, having represented all that had taken place, sought in terror the protection of after having acknowledged his fault. And , gratified, told him, 'O prince of snakes, O , here thou you hast have no fear from that snake-sacrifice. The was pacified by me for thy your sake. Therefore, thou you hast have no fear. Let this fear of thy your heart be allayed.'
continued, 'Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began to dwell in 's abode in joy and happiness. But , seeing that the snakes were incessantly falling into the fire and that his family was reduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of the snakes was afflicted with great grief, and his heart was about to break. And summoning his sister, he spake spoke unto to her, saying, 'O amiable one, my limbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I am about to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, my sight is falling and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall today into that blazing fire! This sacrifice of the son of is for the extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to the abode of the king of the dead. The time is come, O my sister, on account of which thou you wert were bestowed by me on to protect us with our relatives. O best of the women of the snake race, will put an end to the sacrifice that is going on. The told me this of old. Therefore, O child, solicit thy your dear son who is fully conversant with the Vedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself and also of those dependent on me."'
( Parva continued)
" said, 'Then the snake-dame , calling her own son, told him the following words according to the directions of , the king of the snakes. 'O son, the time is come for the accomplishment of that object for which I was bestowed on thy your father by my brother. Therefore, do thou you that which should be done.'
" asked, 'Why wert were thou you, O mother, bestowed on my father by my uncle? Tell me all truly so that on hearing it, I may do what is proper.'
"Then , the sister of the king of the snakes, herself unmoved by the general distress, and even desirous of the welfare of her relatives, said unto to him, 'O son, it is said that the mother of all the snakes is . Know thou you why she cursed in anger her sons.' Addressing the snakes she said, 'As ye you have refused to falsely represent Uchchaihsravas, the prince of horses, for bringing about 's bondage according to the wager, therefore, shall he whose charioteer is burn you all in 's sacrifice. And perishing in that sacrifice, ye you shall go to the region of the unredeemed spirits.' the worlds spake spoke unto to her while uttering this curse, 'Be it so,' and thus approved of her speech. , having heard that curse and then the words of the , sought the protection of the gods, O child, on the occasion when the amrita was being churned for. And the gods, their object fulfilled, for they had obtained the excellent amrita, with ahead, approached the . And all the gods, with king , sought to incline Him who was born of the lotus to be propitious, so that the curse might be made abortive.'
"And the gods said, 'O Lord, , the king of the snakes, is sorry on account of his relatives. How may his mother's curse prove abortive?'
"Brahman thereupon then replied, saying, ' will take unto to himself a wife of the name of ; the Brahmana born of her will relieve the snakes.'
", the best of snakes, hearing those words, bestowed me, O thou you of godlike looks, on thy your high-souled father some time before the commencement of the sacrifice. And from that marriage thou you art born of me. That time has come. It behoveth behooves thee you to protect us from this danger. It behoveth behooves thee you to protect my brother and myself from the fire, so that the object, viz., our relief, for which I was bestowed on thy your wise father, may not be unfulfilled. What dost do thou you think, O son?'
" continued, 'Thus addressed, said unto to his mother, 'Yes, I will.' And he then addressed the afflicted , and as if infusing life into him, said, 'O , thou you best of snakes, thou you great being, truly do I say, I shall relieve thee you from that curse. Be easy, O snake! There is no fear any longer. I shall strive earnestly so that good may come! Nobody hath has ever said that my speech, even in jest, hath has proved false. Hence on serious occasions like this, I need not say anything more, O uncle, going thither there today I shall gratify, with words mixed with blessings, the monarch installed at the sacrifice, so that, O excellent one, the sacrifice may stop. O highminded one, O king of the snakes, believe all that I say. Believe me, my resolve can never be unfulfilled.'
"And then said, 'O , my head swims and my heart breaks. I cannot discern the points of the earth, as I am afflicted with a mother's curse.'
"And said, 'Thou you best of snakes, it behoveth behooves thee you not to grieve any longer. I shall dispel this fear of thine yours from the blazing fire. This terrible punishment, capable of burning like the fire at the end of the Yuga, I shall extinguish. Nurse not thy your fear any longer.'
" continued, 'Then that best of Brahmanas, , quelling the terrible fear of the 's heart, and taking it, as it were, on himself, wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to 's sacrifice blessed with every merit. And having gone thither there, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound with numerous Sadasyas on it whose splendour was like unto to that of the Sun or . But that best of Brahmanas was refused admittance by the door-keepers. And the mighty ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial compound. And that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of all virtuous men, having entered the excellent sacrificial compound, began to adore the king of infinite achievements, Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred fire.'"
( Parva continued)
" said, ' and and performed sacrifices of old in Prayaga. But thy your sacrifice, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of , is not inferior to any of those. Let those dear unto to us be blessed! performed a hundred sacrifices. But this sacrifice of thine yours, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of , is fully equal to ten thousand sacrifices of . Let those dear unto to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of , of Harimedha, or of king , is the sacrifice of thine yours, O foremost one of 's race, O son of . Let those dear unto to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of , of king Sasavindu, or of king , is this sacrifice of thine yours, O foremost one of 's race, O son of , in which he himself was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son of Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine yours, O foremost one of 's race, O son of . Let those dear unto to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of king , the son of a god and belonging to Ajamida race, heard of (even) in the heavens, is this sacrifice of thine yours. O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of , let those dear unto to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of (), the son of , in which he himself was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of thine yours, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Let those dear unto to us be blessed! These (Ritwiks and Sadasyas) that are here engaged in making thy your sacrifice, like unto to that of the slayer of Vritra, are of splendour equal to that of the sun. There now remains nothing for them to know, and gifts made to them become inexhaustible (in merit). It is my conviction that there is no Ritwik in all the worlds who is equal to thy your Ritwik, . His disciples, becoming Ritwiks, competent for their duties, travel over the earth. The high-souled bearer of libation (viz., ), called also and Chitrabhanu, having gold for his vital seed and having his path, marked by black smoke, blazing up with flames inclined to the right, beareth bears these thy your libations of clarified butter to the gods. In this world of men there is no other monarch equal to thee you in the protection of subjects. I am ever well-pleased with thy your abstinence. Indeed, thou you art either , or , the . Like himself, thunderbolt in hand, thou you art, in this world, the protector of all creatures. In this earth there is no man so great as thou you and no monarch who is thy your equal in sacrifice. Thou you art like Khatwanga, Nabhaga, and Dilipa. In prowess thou you art like and Mandhatri. In splendour equal to the sun, and of excellent vows, thou you art O monarch, like ! Like Valmiki thou you art of energy concealed. Like thou you hast have controlled thy your wrath. Like is thy your lordship. Thy your splendour also shines like that of . Like art thou you conversant with the dispensation of justice. Thou you art like adorned with every virtue. Thou you art the home of the good fortune that belongs to the Vasus. Thou you art also the refuge of the sacrifices. In strength thou you art equal to Damvodbhava. Like Rama (the son of ) thou you art conversant with the scriptures and arms. In energy thou you art equal to Aurva and Trita. Thou you inspirest terror by thy your looks like Bhagiratha.'
" said, ', having thus adored them, gratified them all, viz., the king, the Sadasyas, the Ritwiks and the sacrificial fire. And king beholding the signs and indications manifested all around, addressed them as follows.'"