Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/83

Rh blazing flame, the mighty Danavas entered the bowels of the Earth, while others plunged into the sea of salt-waters.

"And having gained the victory, the gods offered due respect to Mandara and placed bim again on his own base. And the nectar-bearing gods made the heavens resound with their shouts, and went to their own abodes. And the gods, on returning to the heavens, rejoiced greatly, and Indra and the other deities made over to Narayana the vessel of Amrita for careful keep."

And so ends the nineteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Sauti said, "Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amrita was churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horse Uchchaisravas of great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained. It was this horse about which Kadru asked Vinata, saying. 'Tell me, amiable sister, without taking much time, of what colour Uchchaisravas is.' And Vinata answered, -'That prince of steeds is certainly white. What dost thou think, sister ? Say thou what is its colour, Let us lay a wager upon it,' Kadru replied, then-' thou of sweet smiles, I think that horse is black in its tail. Beauteous one, bet with me that she who loseth will become the other's slave.

Sauti continued, -"Thus wagering with each other about menial service as a slave, the sisters went home, and resolved to satisfy themselves by examining the horse next day. And Kadru, bent upon practising a deception, ordered her thousand sons to transform themselves into black bair and speedily cover the horse's tait in order that she might not become a slave. But her sons, the snakes, refusing to do her bidding, she cursed them, saying, 'During the snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava race, Agni shall consume you all.' And the Grand-sire (Brahman) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse pronounced by Kadru, impelled by the fates. And seeing that the snakes had multiplied exceedingly, the Grand-sire, moved by kind consideration for his creatures, sanctioned with all the gods this curse of Kadru. Indeed, of virulent poison, great prowess and excess of strength, and ever bent on biting other creatures as the snakes were, their mother's conduct towards them-those persecutors of all creatures,-- was very