Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.58
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1.58.1
इदमत्यद्भुतं चान्यदास्तीकस्यानुशुश्रुम ।
तथा वरैश्छन्द्यमाने राज्ञा पारिक्षितेन हि ॥ १.५८.१ ॥
We have also heard this other most wonderful account of Āstīka, when the king, the son of Parīkṣit, granted him the boons he desired.
1.58.2
इन्द्रहस्ताच्च्युतो नागः ख एव यदतिष्ठत ।
ततश्चिन्तापरो राजा बभूव जनमेजयः ॥ १.५८.२ ॥
The serpent, fallen from Indra's hand, remained suspended in the sky; then King Janamejaya became absorbed in anxiety.
1.58.3
हूयमाने भृशं दीप्ते विधिवद्वसुरेतसि ।
न स्म स प्रापतद्वह्नौ तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥ १.५८.३ ॥
Though oblations were being offered duly into the blazing fire, Takṣaka, tormented by fear, did not fall into the flames.
1.58.4
किं सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम् ।
न प्रत्यभात्तदाऽग्नौ यत्स पपात न तक्षकः ॥ १.५८.४ ॥
O Sūta, what became of that host of mantras of those wise brahmins, that it did not seem to take effect when Takṣaka did not fall into the fire?
1.58.5
तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्वित्रस्तं विसंज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम् ।
आस्तीकस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत् ॥ १.५८.५ ॥
To that best of serpents, terrified and senseless from Indra's hand, Āstīka uttered three times the words, "Stop, stop!"
1.58.6
वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षे च हृदयेन विदूयता ।
यथा तिष्ठति वै कश्चित्खं च गां चान्तरा नरः ॥ १.५८.६ ॥
He stood still in the sky, as a man stands between earth and sky with a heart in anguish.
1.58.7
ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम् ।
काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम् ॥ १.५८.७ ॥
Then the king, greatly urged by the assembly, spoke these words: "Let it be as Āstīka has said; this is my wish."
1.58.8
समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः ।
प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत् ॥ १.५८.८ ॥
Let this rite be completed; let the serpents be unharmed; let Āstīka be pleased. May the word of Sūta be true.
1.58.9
ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिजः समजायत ।
आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च ॥ १.५८.९ ॥
Then a clamor of joyful cries arose, born of delight, when the boon was granted to Āstīka; and then it ceased.
1.58.10
स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह ।
प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः ॥ १.५८.१० ॥
That sacrifice belonged to the king, Pāṇḍu's descendant and son of Parīkṣit; and Janamejaya, the Bhārata king, was delighted.
1.58.11
ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः ।
तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ १.५८.११ ॥
To the officiating priests and the members of the assembly who had gathered there, he gave wealth by hundreds and by thousands.
1.58.12
लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः ।
येनोक्तं तस्य तत्राग्रे सर्पसत्रनिवर्तने ॥ १.५८.१२ ॥
To Lohitākṣa the charioteer, and likewise to the architect, the mighty one gave gifts, since he had first spoken there about halting the serpent sacrifice.
1.58.13
निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु ।
दत्त्वा द्रव्यं यथान्यायं भोजनाच्छादनान्वितम् ॥ १.५८.१३ ॥
Having made the Brahmin the occasion, he gave him much wealth, and, rightly, goods together with food and clothing.
1.58.14
प्रीतस्तस्मै नरपतिरप्रमेयपराक्रमः ।
ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ १.५८.१४ ॥
The king of immeasurable valor, pleased with him, then performed the avabhṛtha bath with the rite as prescribed by the rule.
1.58.15
आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम् ।
राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम् ॥ १.५८.१५ ॥
The king, with a pleased mind, sent Āstīka, pleased and having accomplished his task, the wise one, well honored, straight to his home.
1.58.16
पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत् ।
भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ ॥ १.५८.१६ ॥
Saying, "Your return visit is to be made," he spoke these words to him: "You shall be a member of my assembly at the horse sacrifice, the great rite."
1.58.17
तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव तदास्तीको मुदा युतः ।
कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम् ॥ १.५८.१७ ॥
Saying, "So be it," Āstīka at once set off in joy, having done his incomparable task and pleased the king.
1.58.18
स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातुलं मातरं च ताम् ।
अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य तथा वृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ॥ १.५८.१८ ॥
Very pleased, he went; approaching his maternal uncle and his mother, embracing them, he reported just what had happened.
1.58.19
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणाः समेता ।
ये तत्रासन्पन्नगा वीतमोहाः।
आस्तीके वै प्रीतिमन्तो बभूवु-
रूचुश्चैनं वरमिष्टं वृमीष्व ॥ १.५८.१९ ॥
Hearing this, the serpents gathered there, freed from delusion, were pleased. Filled with affection for Āstīka, they said to him, "Choose the boon you desire."
1.58.20
भूयोभूयः सर्वशस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तं ।
किं ते प्रियं करवामाद्य विद्वन्।
प्रीता वयं मोक्षिताश्चैव सर्वे ।
कामं किं ते करवामाद्य वत्स ॥ १.५८.२० ॥
Again and again they all said to him: "O learned one, what dear thing may we do for you today? We are pleased and all of us have been freed. Dear child, what may we do for you today, as you wish?"
1.58.21
सायं प्रातर्ये प्रसन्नात्मरूपा ।
लोके विप्रा मानवा ये परेऽपि।
धर्माख्यानं ये पठेयुर्ममेदं ।
तेषां युष्मन्नैव किंचिद्भयं स्यात् ॥ १.५८.२१ ॥
Whoever in this world, whether brahmin, man or others, recites this narrative of dharma of mine at evening or morning with a pleased heart and countenance, shall have no fear whatever from you.
1.58.22
तैश्चाप्युक्तो भागिनेयः प्रसन्नै-
रेतत्सत्यं काममेवं वरं ते।
प्रीत्या युक्ताः कामितं सर्वशस्ते ।
कर्तारः स्म प्रवणा भागिनेय ॥ १.५८.२२ ॥
Those pleased serpents also said to the nephew: "This is true; may the boon you desire be granted to you thus. Filled with affection, we are always ready, O nephew, to fulfil all your desires."
1.58.23
असितं चार्तिमन्तं च सुनीथं चापि यः स्मरेत् ।
दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ नास्य सर्पभयं भवेत् ॥ १.५८.२३ ॥
He who remembers Asita, Ārtimān and Sunītha, whether by day or by night, shall have no fear of serpents.
1.58.24
यो जरत्कारुणा जातो जरत्कारौ महावशाः ।
आस्तीकः सर्पसत्रे वः पन्नगान्योऽभ्यरक्षत।
तं स्मरन्तं महाभागा न मां हिंसितुमर्हथ ॥ १.५८.२४ ॥
The very powerful Āstīka, born to Jaratkāru of Jaratkāru, who protected you, the snakes, at the snake sacrifice: you ought not harm me, O greatly fortunate ones, who remember him.
1.58.25
सर्पापसर्प भद्रं ते गच्छ सर्प महाविष ।
जनेमेजयस्य यज्ञान्ते आस्तीकवचनं स्मर ॥ १.५८.२५ ॥
Snake, withdraw; may it go well for you. Go, O snake of great poison. At the end of Janamejaya's sacrifice, remember the words of Āstīka.
1.58.26
आस्तीकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा यः सर्पो न निवर्तते ।
शतधा भिद्यते मूर्धा शिंशवृक्षफलं यथा ॥ १.५८.२६ ॥
The serpent that, having heard Āstīka's words, does not turn back, its head is split into a hundred pieces, like the fruit of the śiṃśapa tree.
1.58.27
स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा द्विजेन्द्रः ।
समागतैस्तैर्भुजगेन्द्रमुख्यैः।
संप्राप्य प्रीतिं विपुलां महात्मा ।
ततो मनो गमनायाथ दध्रे ॥ १.५८.२७ ॥
Thus addressed, the best of the twice-born, the great-souled one, having obtained vast delight from the assembled chief lords of serpents, then resolved to depart.
1.58.28
इत्येवं नागराजोऽथ नागानां मध्यगस्तदा ।
उक्त्वा सहैव तैः सर्पैः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ ॥ १.५८.२८ ॥
Thus the king of the nāgas, who was in the midst of the nāgas, having spoken together with those serpents, went to his own abode.
1.58.29
मोक्षयित्वा तु भुजगान्सर्पसत्राद्द्विजोत्तमः ।
जगाम काले धर्मात्मा दिष्टान्तं पुत्रपौत्रवान् ॥ १.५८.२९ ॥
Having freed the snakes from the snake sacrifice, that best of the twice-born, righteous, possessed of sons and grandsons, in due time went to his appointed end.
1.58.30
इत्याख्यानं मयास्तीकं यथावत्तव कीर्तितम् ।
यत्कीर्तयित्वा सर्पेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥ १.५८.३० ॥
Thus I have recounted to you, exactly as it is, the tale of Āstīka. One who recites it has no fear of snakes anywhere.
1.58.31
यथा कथितवान्ब्रह्मन्प्रमतिः पूर्वजस्तव ।
पुत्राय रुरवे प्रीतः पृच्छते भार्गवोत्तम ॥ १.५८.३१ ॥
As your ancestor Pramati told it, gladly, to his son Ruru, so I have told it to you, O brahmin, best of the Bhṛgus, who asked.
1.58.32
यद्वाक्यं श्रुतवांश्चाहं तथा च कथितं मया ।
आस्तीकस्य कवेर्विप्र श्रीमच्चरितमादितः ॥ १.५८.३२ ॥
O brahmin, the words I heard and the words I have told are, from the beginning, the glorious deeds of the sage Āstīka.
1.58.33
यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान्ब्रह्मञ्श्रुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम् ।
व्येतु ते सुमहद्ब्रह्मन्कौतूहलमरिन्दम ॥ १.५८.३३ ॥
O brahmin, having heard the words of the Ḍuṇḍubha, may your great curiosity, about which you questioned me, be dispelled, O subduer of foes.
1.58.34
श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम् ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात् ॥ १.५८.३४ ॥
Whoever hears this most righteous narrative of Āstīka, which increases merit, freed from all sins, should attain long life.