Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/164

130 'The monarch must be deceived by my power of illusion. But what must be the means?' And then Takshaka sent to the king (his attendant) snakes in the guise of ascetics taking with them fruits, the kusa grass, and water (as presents). And Takshaka, addressing them, said, 'Go ye all to the king alleging urgent business, without sign of impatience, as if to make the monarch only accept the fruits, flowers and water (that ye shall carry as presents to him).

Sauti continued, "And those snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, acted accordingly. And they took to the king kusa grass, water, and fruits. And the foremost of kings, of great prowess, accepted those offerings. And after their business was finished, he said unto them, 'Retire'. And when those shakes disguised as ascetics had gone away, the king of men then addressed his ministers and friends, saying, 'Eat ye, with me, all these fruits of excellent taste brought by the ascetics,' And then moved by fate and the words of the Rishi, the king, with his ministers, entertained the desire of eating those fruits. And the particular fruit, within which Takshaka was, was eaten by the king himself. And when he was eating the fruit, there appeared, O Saunaka, in it an ugly insect, of shape scarcely discernible, of eyes black and color as copper. And the foremost of kings, taking that insect, addressed his councillors, saying, 'The sun is setting; to-day I have no more fear from poison. Therefore, let this insect becoming as Takshaka, bite me, so that my sinful act be expiated and the words of the ascetic rendered true.' And those councillors also, impelled by fate, approved of that speech. And then the monarch smiled, losing his senses, his hour having come. And he quickly placed that insect on his neck. And as the king was smiling, Takshaka, who had (in the form of that insect) come out of the fruit that had been offered to the king, coiled with his own body, round the neck of the monarch. And quickly coiling round the king's neck and uttering a tremendous roar, Takshaka, the lord of snakes, then bit the protector of the earth."

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