ādiparva - Chapter-3

 

आदिपर्व - ādiparva

अध्यायः – 3  ::Chapter-3 

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
ब्रह्मन्भरतशार्दूलो राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा। पुरोहितमथाहूय ऋत्विजो वसुधाधिपः॥ 1 अब्रवीद्वाक्यसंपन्नः कार्यसंपत्करं वचः। यो मे हिंसितवांस्तातं तक्षकः स दुरात्मवान्॥ 2 प्रतिकुर्यां यथा तस्य तद्भवन्तो ब्रुवन्तु मे। अपि तत्कर्म विदितं भवतां येन पन्नगम्॥ 3 तक्षकं संप्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ प्रक्षिपेयं सबान्धवम्। यथा तेन पिता मह्यं पूर्वं दग्धो विषाग्निना॥4 तथाऽहमपि तं पापं दग्धुमिच्छामि पन्नगम्॥ ऋत्विज ऊचुः। अस्ति राजन्महात्सत्रं त्वदर्थं देवनिर्मितम्।5 सर्वसत्रमिति ख्यातं पुराणे परिपठ्यते॥ 6 आहर्ता तस्य सत्रस्य त्वन्नान्योऽस्ति नराधिप। इति पौराणिकाः प्राहुरस्माकं चास्ति स क्रतुः॥ 7 एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिर्मेने दग्धं हि तक्षकम्। हुताशनमुखे दीप्ते प्रविष्टमिति सत्तम॥ 8 ततोऽब्रवीन्मन्त्रविदस्तान्राजा ब्राह्मणांस्तदा। आहरिष्यामि तत्सत्रं संभाराः संभ्रियन्तु मे॥ 9 ततस्त ऋत्विजस्तस्य शास्त्रतो द्विजसत्तम। तं देशं मापयामासुर्यज्ञायतनकारणात्॥ 10 यथावद्वेदविद्वांसः सर्वे बुद्धेः परंगताः। ऋद्ध्या परमया युक्तमिष्टं द्विजगणैर्युतम्॥ 11 प्रभूतधनधान्याढ्यमृत्विग्भिः सुनिषेवितम्। निर्माय चापि विधिवद्यज्ञायतनमीप्सितम्॥ 12 राजानं दीक्षयामासुः सर्पसत्राप्तये तदा। इदं चासीत्तत्र पूर्वं सर्पसत्रे भविष्यति॥ 13 निमित्तं महदुत्पन्नं यज्ञविघ्नकरं तदा। यज्ञस्यायतने तस्मिन्क्रियमाणे वचोऽब्रवीत्॥ 14 स्थपतिर्बुद्धिसंपन्नो वास्तुविद्याविशारदः। इत्यब्रवीत्सूत्रधारः सूतः पौराणिकस्तदा॥ 15 यस्मिन्देशे च काले च मापनेयं प्रवर्तिता। ब्राह्मणं कारणं कृत्वा नायं संस्थास्यते क्रतुः॥ 16 एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राजासौ प्राग्दीक्षाकालमब्रवीत्। क्षत्तारं न हि मे कश्चिदज्ञातः प्रविशेदिति॥ ॥ 17	17 (116)
King Janamejaya, upon saying this, received approval from his ministers. Determined to perform a snake sacrifice, the ruler—the fierce descendant of the Bharata lineage and son of Parikshit—called upon his priest and the Ritwiks. Skilled in the art of communication, he spoke to them regarding the fulfillment of his ambitious plan.   'I must take revenge on the villain Takshaka, who killed my father. What can I do? Do you know of any way to burn the snake Takshaka and his kin in the flames? I want to see that scoundrel perish as he once caused my father to perish with his venomous fire.'  The chief priest replied, 'O king, the gods have devised a great sacrifice for you, known as the snake sacrifice, mentioned in the Puranas. Only you can perform it, and no one else. Scholars versed in the Puranas have confirmed its existence.  ' After hearing this, the king, thinking Takshaka was already consumed by Agni, the fire that devours the offerings, declared to the Brahmanas skilled in mantras, 'I will prepare for this sacrifice. Tell me what I need.' The king's Ritwiks, knowledgeable in the Vedas and the rituals of the sacrifice, measured the land for the sacrificial platform according to the sacred texts.  The platform was adorned with valuable items and Brahmanas, filled with precious goods and rice. The Ritwika sat comfortably on it. Once the sacrificial platform was carefully built as required, they prepared the king for the snake sacrifice to fulfill its purpose. However, just before the snake sacrifice began, a significant event hinted at trouble ahead.  While the platform was being built, a clever builder, a Suta by caste and skilled in foundation work, familiar with the Puranas, observed, 'The soil and timing for this platform suggest that this sacrifice will not succeed, due to a Brahmana.' Upon hearing this, the king instructed his gatekeepers to ensure no one entered without his consent.
ततः कर्म प्रववृते सर्पसत्रविधानतः। पर्यक्रामंश्च विदिवत्स्वे स्वे कर्मणि याजकाः॥1 प्रावृत्य कृष्णवासांसि धूम्रसंरक्तलोचनाः। जुहुवुर्मन्त्रवच्चैव समिद्धं जातवेदसम्॥ 2 कम्पयन्तश्च सर्वेषामुरगाणां मनांसि च। सर्पानाजुहुवुस्तत्र सर्वानग्निमुखे तदा॥ 3 ततः सर्पाः समापेतुः प्रदीप्ते हव्यवाहने। विचेष्टमानाः कृपणमाह्वयन्तः परस्परम्॥ 4 विस्फुरन्तः श्वसन्तश्च वेष्टयन्तः परस्परम्। पुच्छैः शिरोभिश्च भृशं चित्रभानुं प्रपेदिरे॥ 5 श्वेताः कृष्णाश्च नीलाश्च स्थविराः शिशवस्तथा। नदन्तो विविधान्नादान्पेतुर्दीप्ते विभावसौ॥ 6 क्रोशयोजनमात्रा हि गोकर्णस्य प्रमाणतः। पतन्त्यजस्रं वेगेन वह्नावग्निमतां वर॥ 7 एवं शतसहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। अवशानि विनष्टानि पन्नगानां तु तत्र वै॥ 8 तुरगा इव तत्रान्ये हस्तिहस्ता इवापरे। मत्ता इव च मातङ्गा महाकाया महाबलाः॥ 9 उच्चावचाश्च बहवो नानावर्णा विषोल्बणाः। घोराश्च परिघप्रख्या दन्दशूका महाबलाः। प्रपेतुरग्नावुरगा मातृवाग्दण्डपीडिताः॥ 10	10 (126)
The snake sacrifice began just as it should. The priests, skilled in their roles and dressed in black robes, their eyes red from smoke, poured clarified butter into the roaring flames, reciting the sacred chants. This sent fear into the hearts of all the snakes as they offered the butter into Agni's mouth, calling upon the names of the snakes.  One by one, the snakes started to tumble into the fire, stunned and shrieking for each other. Swollen and gasping, they twisted together—heads and tails intertwined—and in large numbers, they plunged into the fire. The white, the black, the blue, the old and the young—all fell into the flames, crying out in various tones.  Those as long as a krosa, others a yojana, and some the size of a gokarna, fell violently into that supreme fire. Hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of snakes lost all control and perished there. Among them were some as large as horses, others like elephant trunks, and still others, massive and powerful like furious elephants. They came in different colors and carried toxic poison, looking like iron-spiked maces, always ready to strike. The snakes, suffering under their mother's curse, fell into the flames.
जुह्वत्स्वृत्विक्ष्वथ तदा सर्पसत्रे महाक्रतौ। अहयः प्रापतंस्तत्र घोराः प्राणिभयावहाः॥ 1 वसामेदोवहाः कुल्या नागानां संप्रवर्तिताः। ववौ गन्धश्च तुमुलो दह्यतामनिशं तदा॥ 2 पततां चैव नागानां धिष्ठितानां तथाम्बरे। अश्रूयतानिशं शब्दः पच्यतां चाग्निना भृशम्॥ 3 तक्षकस्तु स नागेन्द्रः पुरंदरनिवेशनम्। गतः श्रुत्वैव राजानं दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्॥ 4 ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तमाख्याय भुजगोत्तमः। अगच्छच्छरणं भीत आगस्कृत्वा पुरंदरम्॥ 5 तमिन्द्रः प्राह सुप्रीतो न तवास्तीह तक्षक। भयं नागेन्द्र तस्माद्वै सर्पसत्रात्कदाचन॥ 6 प्रसादितो मया पूर्वं तवार्थाय पितामहः। तस्मात्तव भयं नास्ति व्येतु तेनसो ज्वरः॥ 7 अजस्रं निपतत्स्वग्नौ नागेषु भृशदुःखितः। अल्पशेषपरीवारो वासुकिः पर्यतप्यत॥ 8 कश्मलं चाविशद्धोरं वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। स घूर्णमानहृदयो भगिनीमिदमब्रवीत्॥ 9 दह्यन्तेऽङ्गानि मे भद्रे न दिशः प्रतिभान्ति माम्। सीदामीव च संमोहाद्धूर्णतीव च मे मनः॥ 10 दृष्टिर्भ्राम्यति मेऽतीव हृदयं दीर्यतीव च। पतिष्याम्यवशोऽद्याहं तस्मिन्दीप्ते विभावसौ॥ 11 पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञोऽसौ वर्ततेऽस्मज्जिघांसया। व्यक्तं मयाऽभिगन्तव्यं प्रेतराजनिवेशनम्॥ 12 अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो यदर्थमसि मे स्वसः। जरत्करौ(पुरा)मयादत्तात्रायस्वास्मान्सबान्धवान्॥ 13 आस्तीकः किल यज्ञं तं वर्तन्तं भुजगोत्तमे। प्रतिषेत्स्यति मां पूर्वं स्वयमाह पितामहः॥ 14 तद्वत्से ब्रूहि वत्सं स्वं कुमारं वृद्धसंमतम्। ममाद्य त्वं सभृत्यस्य मोक्षार्थं वेदवित्तमम्॥ ॥ 15	15 (141)
As the Ritwiks began the sacred snake ritual by pouring clarified butter into the fire, terrifying snakes, evoking dread in every creature, started to drop into it. The fat and marrow of the snakes spilled out like rivers into the flames. An unbearable stench filled the air from the ongoing burning of the snakes, and there were constant cries from those that had fallen into the fire, along with those flying overhead, about to plunge in.  Meanwhile, Takshaka, the king of snakes, hearing that King Janamejaya was performing the sacrifice, rushed to the palace of Indra. This noble serpent, acknowledging his wrongdoing, begged Indra for protection out of fear. Indra, pleased with his plea, reassured him, 'O Takshaka, you need not fear the snake ritual here. I have appeased the Brahma on your behalf, so let go of your worries.' Seeing his fellow snakes continuously falling into the flames, Vasuki, distressed by the loss of his kin, felt deep sorrow. He was overwhelmed with grief, and his heart was breaking. Calling for his sister, he said, “'Dear sister, my body is burning, and I can no longer see the skies. I feel faint, my mind is swirling, and my heart is shattered. I may collapse into this raging fire today!'  This sacrifice of Parikshit's son is meant to eliminate our lineage. It’s clear that I, too, will have to face the king of the dead. The time has come, dear sister, for which I entrusted you to Jaratkaru to safeguard us and our kin. O greatest among the women of the serpent clan, Astika will end this sacrifice that is happening. The great ancestor told me this long ago. Therefore, dear child, please ask your beloved son, who is well-versed in the Vedas and respected by the elders, to protect me and those who rely on me.”
तत आहूय पुत्रं स्वं जरत्कारुर्भुजंगमा। वासुकेर्नागराजस्य वचनादिदमब्रवीत्॥ 1 अहं तव पितुः पुत्र भ्रात्रा दत्ता निमित्ततः। कालः स चायं संप्राप्तस्तत्कुरुष्व यथातथम्॥ 2 आस्तीक उवाच। किंनिमित्तं मम पितुर्दत्ता त्वं मातुलेन मे। तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन श्रुत्वा कर्ताऽस्मि तत्तथा॥ 3 तत आचष्ट सा तस्मै बान्धवानां हितैषिणी। भगिनी नागराजस्य जरत्कारुरविक्लबा॥ 4 जरत्कारुरुवाच। पन्नगानामशेषाणां माता कद्रूरिति श्रुता। तया शप्ता रुषितया सुता यस्मान्निबोध तत्॥ 5 उच्चैः श्रवाः सोऽश्वराजो यन्मिथ्या न कृतो मम। विनतार्थाय पणिते दासभावाय पुत्रकाः॥ 6 जनमेजयस्य वो यज्ञे धक्ष्यत्यनिलसारथिः। तत्र पञ्चत्वमापन्नाः प्रेतलोकं गमिष्यथ॥ 7 तां च शप्तवतीं देवः साक्षाल्लोकपितामहः। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं प्रोवाचानु मुमोद च॥ 8 वासुकिश्चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा पितामहवचस्तदा। अमृते मथिते तात देवाञ्छरणमीयिवान्॥ 9 सिद्धार्थाश्च सुराः सर्वे प्राप्यामृतमनुत्तमम्। भ्रातरं मे पुरस्कृत्य पितामहमुपागमन्॥ 10 ते तं प्रसादयामासुः सुराः सर्वेऽब्जसंभवम्। राज्ञा वासुकिना सार्धं शापोऽसौन भवेदिति॥ 11 देवा ऊचुः। वासुकिर्नागराजोऽयं दुःखितो ज्ञातिकारणात्। अभिशापः स मातुस्तु भगवन्न भवेत्कथम्॥ 12 ब्रह्मोवाच। जरत्कारुर्जरत्कारुं यां भार्यां समवाप्स्यति। तत्र जातो द्विजः शापान्मोक्षयिष्यति पन्नगान्॥ 13 एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं वासुकिः पन्नगोत्तमः। प्रादान्माममरप्रख्य तव पित्रे महात्मने॥ 14 प्रागेवानागते काले तस्मात्त्व मय्यजायथाः। अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो भयान्नस्त्रातुमर्हसि॥ 15 भ्रातरं चापि मे तस्मात्त्रातुमर्हसि पावकात्। न मोघं तु कृतं तत्स्याद्यदहं तव धीमते। पित्रे दत्ता विमोक्षार्थं कथं वा पुत्र मन्यसे॥ 16 एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सास्तीको मातरं तदा। अब्रवीद्दुःखसंतप्तं वासुकिं जीवयन्निव॥ 17 अहं त्वां मोक्षयिष्यामि वासुके पन्नगोत्तम। तस्माच्छापान्महासत्त्व सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते॥ 18 भव स्वस्थमना नाग न हि ते विद्यते भयम्। प्रयतिष्ये तथा राजन्यथा श्रेयो भविष्यति॥ 19 न मे वागनृतं प्राह स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा। तं वै नृपवरं गत्वा दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्॥ 20 वाग्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिस्तोषयिष्येऽद्य मातुल। यथा स यज्ञो नृपतेर्निवत्रिष्यति सत्तम॥ 21 स संभावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्वं महामते। न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमर्हति॥ 22 वासुकिरुवाच। आस्तीक परिघूर्णामि हृदयं मे विदीर्यते। दिशो न प्रतिजानामि ब्रह्मदण्डनिपीडितः॥ 23 आस्तीक उवाच। न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः कथंचित्पन्नगोत्तम। प्रदीप्ताग्नेः समुत्पन्नं नाशयिष्यामि ते भयम्॥ 24 ब्रह्मदण्डं महाघोरं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्। नाशयिष्यामि माऽत्र त्वं भयंकार्षीः कथंचन॥ 25 ततः स वासुकेर्घोरमपनीय मनोज्वरम्। आधाय चात्मनोऽङ्गेषु जगाम त्वरितो भृशम्॥ 26 जनमेजयस्य तं यज्ञं सर्वैः समुदितं गुणैः। मोक्षाय भुजगेन्द्राणामास्तीको द्विजसत्तमः॥ 27 स गत्वाऽपश्यदास्तीको यज्ञायतनमुत्तमम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिः सूर्यवह्निसमप्रभैः॥ 28 स तत्र वारितो द्वास्थैः प्रविशन्द्विजसत्तमः। अभितुष्टाव तं यज्ञं प्रवेशार्थी परंतपः॥ 29 स प्राप्य यज्ञायतनं वरिष्ठं द्विजोत्तमः पुण्यकृतां वरिष्ठः। तुष्टाव राजानमनन्तकीर्तिमृत्विक्सदस्यांश्च तथैव चाग्निम्॥ ॥ 30	30 (171)
'Then the Jaratkaru called for her son Astika and said to him the words that Vasuki, the king of snakes, had instructed her to say. 'My son, the time has come to fulfill the purpose for which I was given to your father by my brother. Now, you must act as needed.'  Astika asked, 'Why, Mother, were you given to my father by my uncle? Please tell me the truth so I can act appropriately.' Jaratkaru, sister to the king of snakes and unmoved by the widespread suffering, spoke to him, 'My son, the mother of all snakes is Kadru. Understand why she cursed her sons in anger.' She addressed the snakes, saying, 'Since you refused to falsely claim Uchchaihsravas, the royal horse, to fulfil Vinata's bondage as agreed, he whose charioteer is Vayu will burn you all in Janamejaya's sacrifice. In that sacrifice, you shall meet your end and go to the realm of the unredeemed spirits.'  The Brahma approved her words with, 'So be it.' Hearing this curse and the Grandsire’s words, Vasuki sought the protection of the gods as the amrita was being churned. Once the gods had fulfilled their purpose and obtained the divine amrita, they, along with Vasuki, approached the Grandsire. All the gods, with King Vasuki, sought the favour of Him who was born from the lotus, hoping to nullify the curse.'  "The gods said, 'O Lord, Vasuki, king of the snakes, is troubled because of his family. How can we lift his mother’s curse?' Brahma replied, 'Jaratkaru will marry a woman also named Jaratkaru; their child will free the snakes from their plight.' Hearing this, Vasuki, the greatest of snakes, entrusted me, O noble one, to your esteemed father before the sacrifice began.  From that union, you came into being. That moment has arrived. You must protect us from this peril. You must save my brother and me from the flames, so that the purpose for which I was given to your wise father is fulfilled. What do you say, my son?"  Astika, upon hearing this, responded to his mother, 'Yes, I will.' He then turned to the troubled Vasuki and, as if breathing life into him, said, 'O Vasuki, noblest of snakes, I promise to free you from the curse. Do not worry, O snake! There is nothing to fear. I will work diligently for good to prevail! No one has ever claimed my words, even in jest, have proven false. Therefore, on significant occasions like this, I need not say more. Today, I will charm the king Janamejaya, who has gathered for the sacrifice, with words of blessings to ensure the ceremony ceases. O esteemed one, O king of snakes, trust what I say. Trust that my intention will come to pass.'  Then Vasuki said, 'O Astika, I feel overwhelmed and heartbroken. I can't see the world's boundaries, as I'm suffering from a mother’s curse.' Astika replied, 'Noble snake, you should not grieve any longer. I will rid you of this fear caused by the blazing fire. I will extinguish this dreadful punishment, which burns as fiercely as the fire at the end of the Yuga. Hold on to your courage.'  Then Astika, the finest of Brahmanas, soothed Vasuki's deep fear and took it upon himself, swiftly going to Janamejaya's blessed sacrifice. Once there, he saw the magnificent sacrificial arena filled with many Sadasyas, shining like the Sun or Agni. But the door-keepers denied him entry. The powerful ascetic appeased them, eager to enter the sacrificial space. Finally, that honourable Brahmana, the foremost virtuous man, entered the grand arena and began to praise the mighty king, the Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and the sacred fire.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते आदिपर्वणि तृतीयोऽध्यायः॥

 

Ādiparva Chapter-2

Ādiparva Chapter-4