Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/163

Rh Kasyapa spake these words:—"O king of snakes, behold the power of my knowledge as applied to this lord of the forest! O snake, in thy very sight I shall revive it' And then that best of Brahmanas, the illustrious and learned Kasyapa revived, by his learning, that tree which had been reduced to a heap of ashes. And first he created the sprout, then he furnished it with two leaves, and then he made the stem, and then the branches, and then the full-grown tree with leaves and all. And Takshaka seeing the tree revived by the illustrious Kasyapa said unto him, 'It is not wonderful in thee that thou wouldst destroy my poison or that of any one else like myself. O thou whose wealth is asceticism, desiring what wealth thither goest thou? The reward that thou expectest to have from that best of monarchs, even I will give thee, however difficult it may be to obtain it. Decked with fame as thou art, thy success may be doubtful on that king affected by a Brahmana's curse and whose period itself of life hath been shortened. And in that case, this blazing fame of thine that hath overspread the three worlds will disappear like the sun when deprived of his splendour (on the occasion of eclipses.)'

"And Kasyapa said, 'I go there for wealth; give it unto me, O snake, so that taking thy gold, I may return.' And Takshaka answered, 'O best of Dwijas, even I will give thee wealth more than what thou expectest from that king. Therefore, cease to go."

Sauti continued, "And that best of Brahmanas, Kasyapa, of great prowess and intelligence, hearing these words of Takshaka sat in yoga meditation over the king. And the foremost of Munis, Kasyapa, of great prowess and gifted with spiritual knowledge, ascertaining that the period of life of that king of the Pandava race had really come to its end, returned, receiving from Takshaka as much wealth as he desired.

"And upon the illustrious Kasyapa retracing his steps, Takshaka at the proper time speedily entered the city of Hastinapore. And on his way he heard that the lord of the earth was living very carefully, protected by means of poison-neutralising mantras and medicines."

Sauti continued, "And he there-upon reflected, saying,