Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/162

126 Munis, Kasyapa, saying, 'Whither dost thou go with such speed? What, besides, is the business upon which thou art intent?'

"And Kasyapa, thus addressed, replied, 'Takshaka, by his poison, will to-day burn king Parikshita of the Kuru race, that oppressor of all enemies. And I go with speed, O amiable one, to cure, without loss of time, that king of immeasurable prowess, the sole representative of the Pandava race, after he is bit by the same Takshaka like to Agni himself in energy.' And Takshaka answered, 'I am that Takshaka, O Brahmana, who shall burn that lord of the earth. Stop thou, for thou art unable to cure one bit by me.' And Kasyapa rejoined, 'I am sure that possessed of the power of learning, going thither I shall cure that monarch bit by thee.

And so ends the forty-second Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.

 

( Astika Parva continued. )

Sauti said, "And Takshaka, after this, answered, 'If, indeed, thou art able to cure any creature bit by me, thou, O Kasyapa, revive thou this tree bit by me. O thou best of Brahmanas, I burn this banian in thy sight. Try thy best and show me that skill in mantras of which thou hast said.'

"And Kasyapa said, 'If thou art so minded, bite thou then, O king of snakes, this tree. O snake, I shall revive it bit by thee.

Sauti continued, "That king of snakes, thus addressed by the illustrious Kasyapa, bit then that banian tree. And that tree, bit by the illustrious snake, and penetrated by the poison of the serpent, blazed up all around. And having burnt the banian so, the snake then spake again unto Kasyapa, saying, 'O first of Brahmanas, try thy best and revive this lord of the forest.

Sauti continued, "The tree was reduced to ashes by the poison of the king of snakes. And taking up those ashes, 