Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 48

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Mahabharata - Adi Parva



Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 53:English

SECTION LIII: (Astika Parva continued)

describes snake-sacrifice of the king Janamejaya of the Pandava line and the names of those who became the monarch's Ritwiks and Sadasyas

"Saunaka asked, 'What great Rishis became the Ritwiks at the snake-sacrifice (Sarpasatra) (I.48.1) of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava line? Who also became [p. 108]: the Sadasyas (I.48.2) in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to the snakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth thee to describe all these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who were acquainted with the rituals of the snake-sacrifice.'

"Sauti replied, 'I will recite the names of those wise ones who became the monarch's Ritwiks and Sadasyas. The Brahmana Chandabhargava (I.48.5) became the Hotri in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born in the race of Chyavana (I.48.5) and was the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas.

The learned old Brahmana,

  • Kautsa (कौत्स) (I.48.6), became the Udgatri, the chanter of the Vedic hymns.
  • Jaimini (जैमिनि) (I.48.6) became the Brahmana, and
  • Chharngarava (छार्ङ्गरव) (I.48.6) and
  • Pingala (पिङ्गल) (I.48.6) the Adhvaryus,
  • Vyasa (वयास) (I.48.7) with his son and disciples, and
  • Uddalaka (उद्दालक) (I.48.7),
  • Shamathaka (शमठक) (I.48.7),
  • Shwetaketu (श्वेतकेतु) (I.48.7),
  • Panchama (पञ्चम) (I.48.7),
  • Asita (असित) (I.48.8),
  • Devala (देवल) (I.48.8),
  • Narada (नारद) (I.48.8),
  • Parvata (पर्वत) (I.48.8),
  • Atreya (आत्रेय) (I.48.8),
  • Kunda (कुण्ड) (I.48.8),
  • Jathara (जठर) (I.48.8), the Brahmana
  • Kutighata (कुटिघट) (I.48.8),
  • Vatsya (वात्स्य) (I.48.9), old
  • Srutasravas (श्रुतश्रव) (I.48.9) ever engaged in japa and the study of the Vedas.
  • Kahoda (कहॊड) (I.48.9),
  • Devasharman (देवशर्मा) (I.48.9),
  • Maudgalya (मौद्गल्य) (I.48.9),
  • Shama Saubhra (शम सौभ्र) (I.48.9), and many other Brahmanas who had got through the Vedas became the Sadasyas at that sacrifice of the son of Parikshit.

"When the Ritwiks in that snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butter into the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear into every creature, began to fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus falling into the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled with an insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. And incessant also were the cries of the snakes fallen into the fire and those in the air about to fall into it.

'Meanwhile, Takshaka (I.48.14), that prince of snakes, as soon as he heard that king Janamejaya was engaged in the sacrifice, went to the palace of Purandara (Indra). And that best of snakes, having represented all that had taken place, sought in terror the protection of Indra after having acknowledged his fault. And Indra, gratified, told him, 'O prince of snakes, O Takshaka, here thou hast no fear from that snake-sacrifice. The Grandsire was pacified by me for thy sake. Therefore, thou hast no fear. Let this fear of thy heart be allayed.'

Sauti continued, 'Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began to dwell in Indra's abode in joy and happiness. But Vasuki (I.48.20), seeing that the snakes were incessantly falling into the fire and that his family was reduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of the snakes was afflicted with great grief, and his heart was about to break. And summoning his sister, he spake unto her, saying, 'O amiable one, my limbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I am about to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, my sight is falling and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall today into that blazing fire! This sacrifice of the son of Parikshit is for the extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to the abode of the king of the dead. The time is come, O my sister, on account of which thou wert bestowed by me on Jaratkaru (I.48.24) to protect us with our relatives. O best of [p. 109]: the women of the snake race, Astika (I.48.25) will put an end to the sacrifice that is going on. The Grandsire told me this of old. Therefore, O child, solicit thy dear son who is fully conversant with the Vedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself and also of those dependent on me."'

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 48

1 [ष]
     सर्पसत्रे तदा राज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य धीमतः
     जनमेजयस्य के तव आसन्न ऋत्विजः परमर्षयः
 2 के सदस्या बभूवुश च सर्पसत्रे सुदारुणे
     विषादजनने ऽतयर्थं पन्नगानां महाभये
 3 सर्वं विस्तरतस तात भवाञ शंसितुम अर्हति
     सर्पसत्र विधानज्ञा विज्ञेयास ते हि सूतज
 4 [सूत]
     हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नामानीह मनीषिणाम
     ये ऋत्विजः सदस्याश च तस्यासन नृपतेस तदा
 5 तत्र हॊता बभूवाथ बराह्मणश चण्डभार्गवः
     चयवनस्यान्वये जातः खयातॊ वेदविदां वरः
 6 उद्गाता बराह्मणॊ वृद्धॊ विद्वान कौत्सार्य जैमिनिः
     बरह्माभवच छार्ङ्ग रवॊ अध्वर्युर बॊध पिङ्गलः
 7 सदस्यश चाभवद वयासः पुत्र शिष्यसहायवान
     उद्दालकः शमठकः शवेतकेतुश च पञ्चमः
 8 असितॊ देवलश चैव नारदः पर्वतस तथा
     आत्रेयः कुण्ड जठरॊ दविजः कुटि घटस तथा
 9 वात्स्यः शरुतश्रवा वृद्धस तपःस्वाध्यायशीलवान
     कहॊडॊ देव शर्मा च मौद्गल्यः शम सौभरः
 10 एते चान्ये च बहवॊ बराह्मणाः संशितव्रताः
    सदस्या अभवंस तत्र सत्रे पारिक्षितस्य ह
11 जुह्वत्स्व ऋत्विक्ष्व अथ तदा सर्पसत्रे महाक्रतौ
    अहयः परापतंस तत्र घॊराः पराणिभयावहाः
12 वसा मेदॊ वहाः कुल्या नागानां संप्रवर्तिताः
    ववौ गन्धश च तुमुलॊ दह्यताम अनिशं तदा
13 पततां चैव नागानां धिष्ठितानां तथाम्बरे
    अश्रूयतानिशं शब्दः पच्यतां चाग्निना भृशम
14 तक्षकस तु स नागेन्द्रः पुरंदर निवेशनम
    गतः शरुत्वैव राजानं दीक्षितं जनमेजयम
15 ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तम आख्याय भुजगॊत्तमः
    अगच्छच छरणं भीत आगः कृत्वा पुरंदरम
16 तम इन्द्रः पराह सुप्रीतॊ न तवास्तीह तक्षक
    भयं नागेन्द्र तस्माद वै सर्पसत्रात कथं चन
17 परसादितॊ मया पूर्वं तवार्थाय पितामहः
    तस्मात तव भयं नास्ति वयेतु ते मानसॊ जवरः
18 एवम आश्वासितस तेन ततः स भुजगॊत्तमः
    उवास भवने तत्र शक्रस्य मुदितः सुखी
19 अजस्रं निपतत्स्व अग्नौ नागेषु भृशदुःखितः
    अल्पशेष परीवारॊ वासुकिः पर्यतप्यत
20 कश्मलं चाविशद घॊरं वासुकिं पन्नगेश्वरम
    स घूर्णमान हृदयॊ भगिनीम इदम अब्रवीत
21 दह्यन्ते ऽङगानि मे भद्रे दिशॊ न परतिभान्ति च
    सीदामीव च संमॊहाद घूर्णतीव च मे मनः
22 दृष्टिर भरमति मे ऽतीव हृदयं दीर्यतीव च
    पतिष्याम्य अवशॊ ऽदयाहं तस्मिन दीप्ते विभावसौ
23 पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञॊ ऽसौ वर्तते ऽसमज जिघांसया
    वयक्तं मयापि गन्तव्यं पितृराज निवेशनम
24 अयं स कालः संप्राप्तॊ यदर्थम असि मे सवसः
    जरत्कारॊः पुरा दत्ता सा तराह्य अस्मान सबान्धवान
25 आस्तीकः किल यज्ञं तं वर्तन्तं भुजगॊत्तमे
    परतिषेत्स्यति मां पूर्वं सवयम आह पितामहः
26 तद वत्से बरूहि वत्सं सवं कुमारं वृद्धसंमतम
    ममाद्य तवं सभृत्यस्य मॊक्षार्थं वेद वित्तमम

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