ādiparva - Chapter-4

आदिपर्व - ādiparva

अध्यायः – 4 ::Chapter-4

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
जनमेजय उवाच। बालोऽप्ययं स्थविर इवावभाषते नायं बालः स्थविरोऽयं मतो मे। इच्छाम्यहं वरमस्मै प्रदातुं तन्मे विप्राः संविदध्वं यथावत्॥ 1 सदस्या ऊचुः। बालोऽपि विप्रो मान्य एवेह राज्ञा `यश्चाविद्वान्यश्च विद्वान्यथावत्। प्रसादयैनं त्वरितो नरेन्द्र द्विजातिवर्यं सकलार्थसिद्धये।' सर्वान्कामांस्त्वत्त एवार्हतेऽद्य यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्॥ 2 व्याहर्तुकामे वरदे नृपे द्विजं वरं वृणीष्वेति ततोऽब्युवाच। होता वाक्यं नातिहृष्टान्तरात्मा कर्मण्यस्मिंस्तक्षको नैति तावत्॥ 3 जनमेजय उवाच। यथा चेदं कर्म समाप्यते मे यथा च वै तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्। तथा भवन्तः प्रयतन्तु सर्वे परं शक्त्या स हि मे विद्विषाणः॥ 4 ऋत्विज ऊचुः। यथा शस्त्राणि नः प्राहुर्यथा शंसति पावकः। इन्द्रस्य भवने राजंस्तक्षको भयपीडितः॥ 5 यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा पौराणिको वेदितवान्पुरस्तात्। स राजानं प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्नृदेव॥ 6 पुराणमागम्य ततो ब्रवीम्यहं दत्तं तस्मै वरमिन्द्रेण राजन्। वसेह त्वं मत्सकाशे सुगुप्तो न पावकस्त्वां प्रदहिष्यतीति॥ 7 एतच्छ्रुत्वा दीक्षितस्तप्यमान आस्ते होतारं चोदयन्कर्म काले। `इन्द्रेण सार्धं तक्षकं पातयध्वं विभावसौ न विमुच्येत नागः।' होता च यत्तोऽस्याजुहावाथ मन्त्रै- रथो महेन्द्रः स्वयमाजगाम॥ 8 `आयातु चेन्द्रोऽपि सतक्षकः पते- द्विभावसौ नागराजेन तूर्णम्। जम्भस्य हन्तेति जुहाव होता तदा जगामाहिदत्ताभयः प्रभुः॥' 9 विमानमारुह्य महानुभावः सर्वैर्देवैः परिसंस्तूयमानः। बलाहकैश्चाप्यनुगम्यमानो विद्याधरैरप्सरसां गणैश्च `नागस्य नाशो मम चैव नाशो भविष्यतीत्येव विचिन्तयानः॥' 10 तस्योत्तरीये निहितः स नागो भयोद्विग्नः शर्म नैवाभ्यगच्छत्। ततो राजा मन्त्रविदोऽब्रवीत्पुनः क्रुद्धो वाक्यं तक्षकस्यान्तमिच्छन्॥ 11 जनमेजय उवाच। इन्द्रस्य भवने विप्रा यदि नागः स तक्षकः। तमिन्द्रेणैव सहितं पातयध्यं विभावसौ॥ 12 जनमेजयेन राज्ञा तु नोदितस्तक्षकं प्रति। होता जुहाव तत्रस्थं तक्षकं पन्नगं तथा॥ 13 हूयमाने तथा चैव तक्षकः सपुरन्दरः। आकाशे ददृशे तत्र क्षणेन व्यथितस्तदा॥ 14 पुरन्दरस्तु तं यज्ञं दृष्ट्वोरुभयमाविशत्। हित्वा तु तक्षकं त्रस्तः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ॥ 15 इन्द्रे गते तु राजेन्द्र तक्षको भयमोहितः। मन्त्रशक्त्या पावकार्चिस्समीपमवशो गतः। `तं दृष्ट्वा ऋत्विजस्तत्र वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्'॥ 16 ऋत्विज ऊचुः। अयमायाति तूर्णं स तक्षकस्ते वशं नृप। श्रूयतेऽस्य महान्नादो नदतो भैरवं रवम्॥ 17 नूनं मुक्तो वज्रभृता स नागो भ्रष्टो नाकान्मन्त्रवित्रस्तकायः। घूर्णन्नाकाशे नष्टसंज्ञोऽभ्युपैति तीव्रान्निश्वासान्निश्वसन्पन्नगेन्द्रः॥ 18 वर्तते तव राजेन्द्र कर्मैतद्विधिवत्प्रभो। अस्मै तु द्विजमुख्याय वरं त्वं दातुमर्हसि॥ 19 जनमेजय उवाच। बालाभिरूपस्य तवाप्रमेय वरं प्रयच्छामि यथानुरूपम्। वृणीष्व यत्तेऽभिमतं हृदि स्थितं तत्ते प्रदास्याम्यपि चेददेयम्॥ 20 पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि। इदमन्तरमित्येवं तदास्तीकोऽभ्यचोदयत्॥ 21 आस्तीक उवाच। वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं वृणोमि जनमेजय। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगाः॥ 22 एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मन्पारिक्षितस्तु सः। नातिहृष्टमनाश्चेदमास्तीकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 23 सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च यच्चान्यन्मन्यसे विभो। तत्ते दद्यां वरं विप्र न निवर्तेत्क्रतुर्मम॥ 24 आस्तीक उवाच। सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च न त्वां राजन्वृणोम्यहम्। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्स्वस्ति मातृकुलस्य नः॥ 25 आस्तीकेनैवमुक्तस्तु राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा। पुनःपुनरुवाचेदमास्तीकं वदतां वरः॥ 26 अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं द्विज्वरोत्तम। अयाचत न चाप्यन्यं वरं स भृगुनन्दन॥ 27 ततो वेदविदस्तात सदस्याः सर्व एव तम्। राजानमूचुः सहिता लभतां ब्राह्मणो वरम्॥ ॥ 28	28 (199)
Janamejaya said, 'Although he is just a boy, he speaks with the wisdom of an elder. He is not merely a child but one who is wise beyond his years. I wish to grant him a boon, so I ask you, Brahmanas, to give me your consent.' The council responded, 'A Brahmana, even as a child, deserves the respect of rulers; those who are learned even more so. This boy should have his wishes fulfilled by you, but only when Takshaka arrives quickly.' The king, eager to grant the Brahmana a boon, said, 'Ask for what you desire.' Yet, the Hotri, somewhat displeased, remarked, 'Takshaka has not yet come to this sacrifice.' Janamejaya replied, 'Do your utmost to ensure my sacrifice is completed, and may Takshaka arrive soon. He is my adversary.' The Ritwiks answered, 'As the scriptures tell us and as fire indicates, O king, Takshaka is currently hiding in Indra's realm, gripped by fear.' The esteemed Suta, Lohitaksha, who is familiar with the Puranas, had previously affirmed this. When asked again by the king, he reiterated, 'Indeed, as the Brahmanas have said, I confirm, O king, that Indra has granted him refuge, saying, 'Stay with me in secrecy, and Agni shall not harm you.' 'Upon hearing this, the king who presided over the sacrifice felt deep sorrow and urged the Hotri to fulfill his duty. As the Hotri began to pour clarified butter into the fire while chanting mantras, the god Indra himself appeared. He arrived in his chariot, surrounded by all the gods, accompanied by clouds, celestial singers, and heavenly dancers. Takshaka, stricken with fear, hid beneath Indra's cloak and was not seen. In his anger, the king spoke to his mantra-versed Brahmanas, intent on destroying Takshaka, saying, 'If the snake Takshaka is in Indra's realm, cast him into the fire along with Indra himself.' 'Encouraged by King Janamejaya regarding Takshaka, the Hotri poured offerings, naming the snake that was present. As the offerings were made, Takshaka appeared, along with Indra, anxious and distressed, visible in the skies. Indra, seeing the sacrifice, grew alarmed and quickly abandoned Takshaka, returning to his heavenly home. After Indra left, the fearful snake Takshaka was drawn, due to the mantras, close enough to the sacrificial flames. 'The priests then proclaimed, 'O king of kings, your sacrifice is being conducted properly. It is fitting for you, O Lord, to grant a boon to this foremost of Brahmanas.' 'Janamejaya then replied, 'You of boundless form and child-like beauty, I wish to grant you a significant boon. Therefore, ask for whatever you desire in your heart. I promise to fulfill your wish, even if it seems impossible.' 'The Ritwiks said, 'O king, look! Takshaka is soon coming under your command! His terrifying cries and loud roars can be heard. Clearly, the serpent has been abandoned by Indra, the one who wields the thunder. His body is weakened by your mantras, and he is falling from the heavens. Even now, tumbling through the sky and losing consciousness, the prince of snakes approaches, gasping loudly.' 'As Takshaka, the prince of snakes, was about to plunge into the sacrificial fire, in those brief moments Astika spoke, 'O Janamejaya, if you grant me a favor, let this sacrifice of yours end, and may no more snakes fall into the flames.' 'O Brahmana, son of Parikshit, upon hearing Astika's request, felt deep sorrow and replied, 'O noble one, whatever treasures you desire—gold, silver, cattle—I will give to you. Just don’t let my sacrifice cease.' 'Astika then said, 'I do not seek gold, silver, or cattle, O king! I only wish for your sacrifice to end so that my relatives may be freed.' 'The son of Parikshit, hearing Astika’s words, repeated to that greatest of speakers, 'O best of the Brahmanas, request another favor. May you be blessed!' But, O descendant of Bhrigu, he did not ask for anything else. Then all the learned Sadasyas, knowledgeable in the Vedas, unitedly told the king, 'Let the Brahmana receive his wish!'
तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्वित्रस्तं विसंज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम्। आस्तीकस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत्॥ 1 वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षे च हृदयेन विदूयता। यथा तिष्ठति वै कश्चित्खं च गां चान्तरा नरः॥ 2 ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम्। काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम्॥ 3 समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः। प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत्॥ 4 ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिजः समजायत। आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च॥ 5 स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह। प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः॥ 6 ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः। तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥ 7 लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः। येनोक्तं तस्य तत्राग्रे सर्पसत्रनिवर्तने॥ 8 निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु। दत्त्वा द्रव्यं यथान्यायं भोजनाच्छादनान्वितम्॥ 9 प्रीतस्तस्मै नरपतिरप्रमेयपराक्रमः। ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥ 10 आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम्। राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम्॥ 11 पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत्। भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ॥ 12 तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव तदास्तीको मुदा युतः। कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम्॥ 13 स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातुलं मातरं च ताम्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य तथा वृत्तं न्यवेदयत्॥ 14	14 (213)
To the unconscious Takshaka, the greatest of snakes, after Indra had cast him aside, Astika repeatedly urged, 'Stay,' 'Stay,' 'Stay.' He managed to remain in the sky, heartbroken, like someone caught between heaven and earth. The king, pressed by his advisors, declared, 'Let it be as Astika desires. Let the sacrifice conclude, let the snakes be unharmed, and may Astika be pleased, let your words hold true, Suta.' When the wish was granted to Astika, cheers of joy filled the air. Thus, the sacrifice of King Parikshit, of the Pandava lineage, came to a close. King Janamejaya of the Bharata lineage was delighted, and he generously rewarded the priests and advisors, showering them with money in hundreds and thousands. To Suta Lohitaksha—who was knowledgeable about building rules and foundations—the king granted a great deal of wealth. This kind-hearted king also provided him with various gifts, including food and clothing of his choice, which made him very happy. Then the king completed his sacrifice as required and honoured Astika, who left feeling very pleased since he had accomplished his goal. The king told him, 'You must return to be a Sadasya at my grand Horse-sacrifice.' Astika agreed and happily returned home, satisfied with his success and after honouring the king. Once home, he respectfully touched the feet of his uncle and mother and shared the entire story of what had occurred.