Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/43

Rh skilled above all men in curing snake-bites, resolved to go to Hastinapura and to earn great wealth by curing King Parikshit after Prince Takshaka had bitten him. As Kashyapa journeyed Prince Takshaka saw him; and, guessing what his purpose was, Prince Takshaka disguised himself as a Brahman and going up to Kashyapa said, "Where are you going? tell me, I pray you." "Good Sir," said Kashyapa, "I am going to Hastinapura to cure King Parikshit after he has been bitten by Prince Takshaka." "Sir," said the snake prince, "I am prince Takshaka. I wish to test your power. Let me see, if you can cure this tree after I have bitten it." As the snake prince spoke he drove his fangs deep into a great banian tree that stood close to him. And such was the fearful force of the poison that in a few moments nothing remained of the great tree but a heap of ashes. Kashyapa then went up to the ashes and by his magic recreated first the leaves, then the twigs, then the branches and the trunk, and lastly the roots, so that the great tree stood just as it had stood before Prince Takshaka had bitten it. The snake prince marvelled at the magic of Kashyapa and feared that he would save King Parikshit if suffered to go to Hastinapura. "Sir," said Prince Takshaka, "your power is great indeed. But if I give you more wealth than all that King Parikshit possesses will you not leave him to his fate and return home? For a Brahman's curse is upon him. And even your magic may fail to save him. And if you were to fail, the shame of your failure would resound through the three worlds." "Fair snake prince" answered Kashyapa, "I am going to Hastinapura only for gain. Give me what you offer me and I shall return home." Prince Takshaka gladly gave Kashyapa more