Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/93

Rh who is my friend having been mercifully inclined showed thee favor. It is for this that thou returnsetreturnest [sic] safe, taking the with thee. Then, O thou amiable one, I give thee leave to depart. Thou shalt obtain good fortune.'

"And Utanka, having obtained his master's leave, moved by anger and resolved to revenge himself on Takshaka, proceeded towards Hastinapura. That excellent Brahmana soon reached Hastinapura. And Utanka then waited upon King Janamejaya who had sometime before returned victorious from Takshashita. And Utanka saw the victorious monarch surrounded on all sides by his ministers. And he pronounced benedictions on him in proper form. And Utanka addressed the monarch at the proper moment in speech of correct accent and melodious sounds, saying, 'O thou best of monarchs! How is it that thou spendest thy time like a child when there is another matter that urgently demandeth thy attention?

Sauti said:—"The monarch Janamejaya, thus addressed, saluting that excellent Brahmana replied unto him, 'In cherishing these my subjects I do discharge the duties of my noble tribe. Say, what is that business to be done by me and which hath brought thee hither.'

"That foremost of Brahmanas and distinguished beyond all for good deeds, thus addressed by the excellent monarch of large heart, replied unto him, 'O King! the business is thy own that demandeth thy attention; therefore do it please. O thou King of kings! thy father was deprived of life by Takshaka: therefore do thou avenge thy father's death on that vile serpent. The time hath come, I ween, for the act of vengeance ordained by the fates. Go then and avenge the death of thy magnanimous father who, unoffending being bitten by that vile serpent, was reduced to the five elements even like a tree stricken by thunder. The wicked Takshaka, vilest of the serpent race, intoxicated with power committed an unnecessary act when he bit the King, thy father, the protector of the race of royal saints. Wicked in his deeds, he even caused Kasyapa (the prince of physicians) to turn back when he was coming for the relief of thy father. It behoveth thee to burn the wicked wretch in the blazing fire