Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/47

Rh after the other fell into the fire, which instantly consumed them.

But Prince Takshaka fled in fear to the throne of the god Indra and confessed his fault to him. The god Indra pardoned him and said, "Prince Takshaka, stay here and you need fear nothing." And Prince Takshaka rejoiced greatly and hid himself under Indra's throne.

Now the spells of the Brahmans increased in power and the snakes fell into the fire in ever greater numbers, until Vasuki their king feared that all his people would perish. Then he remembered the promise of the god Brahmadeva that Astika the son of the rishi Jaratkaru and of King Vasuki's sister would save the snake people from entire destruction. So King Vasuki went to his sister Jaratkaru and bade her send her son Astika to save the snake people. Astika at his mother's bidding went to Hastinapura and approached the sacrificial fire. There he spoke so nobly the praises of King Janaraejaya the Bharata, and of the mighty Brahmans who sat round the fire, that the heart of King Janamejaya warmed towards him. "Give me leave, great sages," said the King, "to grant this Brahman a boon, for his words are wise and I am pleased with him." But Souti the chief of the Brahmans said, "O King, grant him no boon until we have consumed in the fire Prince Takshaka your enemy." "Where is Prince Takshaka?" asked the Bharata King. "He is hiding in Amravati," answered Souti, "under the god Indra's throne, and Indra has promised him that he will save him." "If that be so," said King Janamejaya, "with your spells draw into the fire not Prince Takshaka only but the god Indra and all Amravati." Then the Brahmans muttered ever fiercer spells and poured more ghee into the sacrificial fire until