Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/190

156 "And the Ritwijas then said, 'O king of kings, this sacrifice of thine is being performed duly. It behoveth thee, O Lord, to grant a boon now to this first of Brahmanas.'

"And Janamejaya then said, 'Thou immeasurable one, I desire to grant thee that art of such handsome child-like features a worthy boon. Therefore, ask thou that which thou desirest in thy heart. I promise thee, that I will grant it even if it be ungrantable!'

"And the Ritwijas said, 'O monarch, this Takshaka is soon coming under thy control! Uttering terrible cries, his loud roar is being heard! Assuredly, the snake hath been forsaken by the wielder of the thunder. And his body disabled by our mantras, he is falling from the heaven. Even now, rolling in the skies, and deprived of consciousness, the prince of snakes cometh, breathing loudly.

Sauti continued, "While Takshaka the prince of snakes was about to fall into the sacrificial fire, during those few moments Astika spake as follows:—'O Janamejaya, if thou wouldst grant me a boon, let this sacrifice of thine come to an end and let no more snakes fall into the fire."

"O Brahmana, the son of Parikshita, thus addressed by him, became exceedingly sorry and spake unto Astika thus:—"Thou illustrious one, gold, silver, kine, what other boon thou desirest, shall I give unto thee! But let not my sacrifice come to an end!"

"And Astika thereupon replied, 'Gold, silver, or kine, I do not ask of thee, O monarch! But let thy sacrifice be ended so that my maternal relations be relieved.

Sauti continued, "The son of Parikshita, thus addressed by Astika, repeatedly said this unto him, that foremost of speakers:—'Thou best of superior Brahmanas, ask thou some other boon. O, blest be thou!' But, O thou of the Bhrigu race, he did not beg any other boon. Then all the Sadasyas conversant with the Vedas told the king with one voice, 'Let the Brahmana receive his boon.

And so ends the fifty-sixth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.