Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/109

Rh of the Immutable, the Infinite, and the True one, my heart trembleth 1 Surely, our annihilation hath comel Otherwise why should not the Immutable Lord prevent our mother while uttering the curse? Therefore, let us consult to-day how we may secure the safety of the snakes 1 Let us not waste time. All of you are wise and discerning. We will consult together and find out the means of deliverance as (did) the gods of yore to regain lost Agni who had concealed himself within a cave, so that the Janamejaga's sacrifice for the destruction of the snakes may not take place, and so that we may not meet with destruction !

Sauti continued,"Thus addressed all the offspring of Kadru assembled together, and, wise in counsels, submitted their opinions to one another. One party of the serpents said, 'We should assume the guise of superior Brahmanas, and beseech Janamejaya, saying, "This (intended) sacrifice ef yours 'ought not to take place. Other snakes thinking themselves wise, said, 'We should all become his favourite counsellors. He will then certainly ask for our advice in all projects. And we will then give him such advice that the sacrifice may be obstructed. The king, the foremost of wise men, thinking us of sterling worth with certainly ask us about bis sacrifice. We will say.-'It must not be !" -And pointing to many serious evils in this and the next worlds will reasons and causes we will take care that the sacrifice may not take place. Or, let one of the snakes, approaching, bite the persons who, intending the monarch's good, and well acquainted with the rites of the snake-sacrifice, may be appointed as the sacrificial priest, so that he will die. The sacrificial priest dying, the sacrifice will not be completed. We will also bite all those who, acquainted with the rites of the snakesacrifice may be appointed Ritwijas of the sacrifice, and by that means attain our object I' Other snakes, more virtuous and kind, said.-'0, this counsel of yours is evill It is not meet to kill Brahmanas ! In danger, that remedy is proper which is blessed on the practices of the righteous, Unrighteousness finally destroyeth the world ! Other serpents said, 'We will extinguish the blazing sacrificial fire by ourselves becoming clouds luminous with lightning and pouring down showers." Other snakes, the best of their kind, proposed. 'Going by night, let us steal away tbe vessel of Soma juice! That will disturb che rite. Or, at that sacrifice, let the snakes, by hundreds and thousands, bite the people, and spread terror around. Or, let the serpents defile the pure food with their food-defiling urine and dung !' Others said, -Let us become the king's Ritwijas, and obstruct his sacrifice by saying at the outset,"Give us the sacrificial fee 1-He (the king), being placed in our power, will do whatever we like l' Others there said,-'When the king will sport in the waters, we will carry him to our home and bind him, so that