Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/147

Rh And so ends the thirty-fourth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.

 

( Astika Parva continued. )

Saunaka said, "O son of Suta, thou hast unfolded the reason why the snakes were cursed by their mother, and why Vinata was also cursed by her son. Thou hast also related the bestowal of boons by their husband on Kadru and Vinata. Thou hast likewise told us the names of Vinata's sons. But thou hast not yet recited the names of the snakes. We are anxious to hear the names of the principal ones."

Sauti said, "O thou whose merit is asceticism, from fear of being lengthy, I shall not mention the names of all the snakes. But I will recite the names of the chief ones. Listen ye to me.

Sesha was born first, and then Vasuki. (Then were born) Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kalakeya, the serpent Mani, Purana, Pinjaraka and Elapatra, Vamana, Nila, Anila, Kalmasha, Savala, Aryaka, Ugraka, Kalaspotaka, Suramukha, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Karotaka, Sankha, Valisikha, Nisthanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Bahyakarna, Hastipada, Mudgarapindaka, Kamvala, Aswatara, Kaliyaka, Vritta, Samvartaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Sankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshemaka, Pindaraka, Karavira, Pushpadanstraka, Vilwaka, Vilwapandara, Mushkada, Sankhashirah, Purnabhadra, Haridraka, Aprajita, Jyotika, Srivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Virajah, Subahu, Salipinda, Kauravya, Dhritarastra, Sankhapinda, Virajab, Subahu, Salipinda, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumukha, Kaunapashana, Kuthara, Kunjara, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudakshya, Tittiri, Halika, Kardama, Vahumulaka, Karkara, Akarkara, Kundodara, and Mahodara.

Thus, O best of Dwijas, have I told the names of the principal serpents. From fear of length I have not told the names of the rest. O thou whose wealth is asceticism, the sons of these snakes, with their grandsons, are innumerable. Reflecting upon this, I shall not name them to thee. O best of ascetics in this world the number of snakes defies calculation, there being many thousands and arbudas of them.

