Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/140

126 and child-like features, I desire to grant thee 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 !'"

The Ritwikas said,-'O monarch, bebold, Takshaka is soon coming under thy control! His terrible cries, and loud roar is being heard ! Assuredly, the snake hath been forsaken by the wielder of thunder. His body being disabled by your mantras, he is falling from heaven. Even now, rolling in the skies, and deprived of consciousness, the prince of snakes cometh, breathing loudly 1"

Sauti coninued, "While Takshaka, the prince of snakes was about to fall into the sacrificial fire, during those few moments Astika spoke as follows:-'0 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 Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, became exceedingly sorry and replied unto Astika thus-"O illustrious one, gold, silver, kine, whatever other possessions thou desirest I shall give unto thee! But let not my sacrifice come to an end r"

Astika thereupon replied, "Gold, silver or kine, I do not ask of thee, O monarch1 But let thy sacrifice be ended so that my maternal relations be relieved I'"

Sauti continued, "The son of Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, repeatedly said this unto that foremost of speakers :-'Best of the Brahmanas, ask some other boon! O, blessed be thou !" But, O thou of Bhrigu's 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 bis boon !'"

So ends the fifty-sixth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Saunaka said."O son of a Suta, I desire to hear the names of all those snakes that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice "

Sauti replied, -"Many thousands and tens of thousands and billions of snakes fell into the fire. O excellent of Brahmanas, so great is the number that I am unable to count them all. So far, however, as I remem ber, hear the names I mention of the principal snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vasuki's race alone, of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and huge body and deadly poison. Helpless and miserable and afflicted with their mother's curse, they fell into the sacrificial fire like libations of butter :