Critical Edition
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः ततः स राजा राजेन्द्र स्कन्धे तस्य भुजंगमम् मुनेः क्षुत्क्षाम आसज्य स्वपुरं पुनराययौ
M. N. Dutt: The Ministers said : O king of kings, that tired and hungry monarch, having placed the snake on the shoulder of the Rishi, came back to his own capital.
ऋषेस्तस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूद्गवि जातो महायशाः शृङ्गी नाम महातेजास्तिग्मवीर्योऽतिकोपनः
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi had a son, born of a cow, named Shringi. He was greatly renowned, exceedingly powerful and greatly energetic and very wrathful.
ब्रह्माणं सोऽभ्युपागम्य मुनिः पूजां चकार ह अनुज्ञातो गतस्तत्र शृङ्गी शुश्राव तं तदा सख्युः सकाशात्पितरं पित्रा ते धर्षितं तथा
M. N. Dutt: He went to Brahma and worshipped him. Commanded by him, Shringi was one day returning home,
मृतं सर्पं समासक्तं पित्रा ते जनमेजय वहन्तं कुरुशार्दूल स्कन्धेनानपकारिणम्
AI Translation: O Janamejaya, your father, the tiger among the Kurus, carried on his shoulder a dead snake that had coiled around him, though it had done him no harm.
तपस्विनमतीवाथ तं मुनिप्रवरं नृप जितेन्द्रियं विशुद्धं च स्थितं कर्मण्यथाद्भुते
AI Translation: O king, he was a great ascetic, the best of sages, who had conquered the senses, was pure, and was engaged in wonderful deeds.
तपसा द्योतितात्मानं स्वेष्वङ्गेषु यतं तथा शुभाचारं शुभकथं सुस्थिरं तमलोलुपम्
AI Translation: One who has illuminated his soul by austerities, who is restrained in his limbs, Who is of good conduct, who speaks well, who is very firm, who is not greedy for worldly pleasures,
अक्षुद्रमनसूयं च वृद्धं मौनव्रते स्थितम् शरण्यं सर्वभूतानां पित्रा विप्रकृतं तव
AI Translation: One who is not mean, not deceitful, who is old, who is established in the vow of silence, Who is a refuge for all beings, who has been wronged by your father,
शशापाथ स तच्छ्रुत्वा पितरं ते रुषान्वितः ऋषेः पुत्रो महातेजा बालोऽपि स्थविरैर्वरः
AI Translation: Then, hearing that, he angrily cursed your father: The son of the sage, though young, was superior to the elders in great splendor.
स क्षिप्रमुदकं स्पृष्ट्वा रोषादिदमुवाच ह पितरं तेऽभिसंधाय तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव
AI Translation: He quickly touched the water and angrily said this: "With your father in mind, you are burning with energy."
अनागसि गुरौ यो मे मृतं सर्पमवासृजत् तं नागस्तक्षकः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा सादयिष्यति सप्तरात्रादितः पापं पश्य मे तपसो बलम्
AI Translation: The one who, when my teacher was not dead, released a dead snake, that angry Takṣaka serpent will destroy him with his splendor. From the seventh night, see the power of
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.10 After 10cd, K4 B3.5m Dn D1.4.5 ins.: *427 आशीविषस्तिग्मतेजा मद्वाक्यबलचोदितः
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र पिता यत्रास्य सोऽभवत् दृष्ट्वा च पितरं तस्मै शापं तं प्रत्यवेदयत्
AI Translation: Having said this, he went to the place where his father was. And having seen his father, he told him about the curse.
स चापि मुनिशार्दूलः प्रेषयामास ते पितुः शप्तोऽसि मम पुत्रेण यत्तो भव महीपते तक्षकस्त्वां महाराज तेजसा सादयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: (Saying in the words of his preceptor) “O king, you have been cursed by my son. Takshaka will burn you with his poison. O great king, be careful.
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.12 After 12ab, K4 (om. line 1) Ñ2 V1 B3 D (except D3.5-7) ins.: *428 शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं गुणान्वितम् आचख्यौ स च विश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः
श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचो घोरं पिता ते जनमेजय यत्तोऽभवत्परित्रस्तस्तक्षकात्पन्नगोत्तमात्
M. N. Dutt: O Janamejaya, your father, having heard these terrible words, took every precaution against the powerful snake Takshaka.
ततस्तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे सप्तमे समुपस्थिते राज्ञः समीपं ब्रह्मर्षिः काश्यपो गन्तुमैच्छत
M. N. Dutt: When the seventh day arrived, a Brahmana Rishi, named Kashyapa, wished to come to the king.
तं ददर्शाथ नागेन्द्रः काश्यपं तक्षकस्तदा तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं त्वरितं व्रजन् क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति
M. N. Dutt: The king of the snakes, Takshaka, saw Kashyapa and that king of the snakes asked that Brahmana, “Where are you going in a hurry? And what is your business for which you go?"
काश्यप उवाच यत्र राजा कुरुश्रेष्ठः परिक्षिन्नाम वै द्विज तक्षकेण भुजंगेन धक्ष्यते किल तत्र वै
M. N. Dutt: Kashyapa said : O Brahmana, I am going where the best of the Kurus, the king named Parikshit is. He will today be killed by the snake Takshaka.
गच्छाम्यहं तं त्वरितः सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम् मयाभिपन्नं तं चापि न सर्पो धर्षयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: I am going in a hurry to cure him, so that he, being treated by me, may not he killed by the snake.
तक्षक उवाच किमर्थं तं मया दष्टं संजीवयितुमिच्छसि ब्रूहि काममहं तेऽद्य दद्मि स्वं वेश्म गम्यताम्
AI Translation: Takshaka said: Why do you want to revive him whom I have bitten? Tell me, I will give you whatever you desire. Go to my house.
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.18 K4 (om. line 7) Ñ V1 B (B2 missing) D T1 ins. after 18ab: G4.5 (om. lines 1,2,7), after 18: *429 अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मन्पश्य मे वीर्यमद्भुतम् न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं तं संजीवयितुं नृपम् इत्युक्त्वा तक्षकस्तत्र सोऽदशद्वै वनस्पतिम् स दष्टमात्रो नागेन भस्मीभूतोऽभवन्नगः काश्यपश्च ततो राजन्नजीवयत तं नगम् ततस्तं लोभयामास कामं ब्रूहीति तक्षकः स एवमुक्तस्तं प्राह काश्यपस्तक्षकं पुनः
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः धनलिप्सुरहं तत्र यामीत्युक्तश्च तेन सः तमुवाच महात्मानं मानयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
M. N. Dutt: “I am going there with the desire of (getting) wealth.” The illustrious Takshaka, (thereupon) told him in sweet words,
यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे तस्माद्राज्ञस्ततोऽधिकम् गृहाण मत्त एव त्वं संनिवर्तस्व चानघ
M. N. Dutt: "O sinless one, take from me more wealth than you expect to get from that king. And then go back."
स एवमुक्तो नागेन काश्यपो द्विपदां वरः लब्ध्वा वित्तं निववृते तक्षकाद्यावदीप्सितम्
M. N. Dutt: The best of men, Kashyapa, being thus addressed by the snake and having received from him as much wealth as he desired to get, went back.
तस्मिन्प्रतिगते विप्रे छद्मनोपेत्य तक्षकः तं नृपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठ पितरं धार्मिकं तव
AI Translation: When the brahmin had gone, Takṣaka approached him in disguise and said to the king, O best of kings, to your father, the righteous one,
प्रासादस्थं यत्तमपि दग्धवान्विषवह्निना ततस्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र विजयायाभिषेचितः
AI Translation: Even the one who was in the palace was burned by the fire of poison. Then, O tiger among men, you were consecrated for victory.
एतद्दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि यथावन्नृपसत्तम अस्माभिर्निखिलं सर्वं कथितं ते सुदारुणम्
M. N. Dutt: O best of kings, we have told you all that we saw and heard, though the account is te: ible and cruel.
श्रुत्वा चैतं नृपश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्य पराभवम् अस्य चर्षेरुत्तङ्कस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: O best of kings, you have now heard how (your father) the great king of the world was killed and how Rishi Uttanka was insulted, do what is proper.
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.25 K4 Ñ2 B (B2 missing) D ins. after 25: V1 (om. lines 1, 2), after 34ef: *430 सौतिरुवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा जनमेजयः उवाच मन्त्रिणः सर्वानिदं वाक्यमरिंदमः जनमेजय उवाच अथ तत्कथितं केन यद्वृत्तं तद्वनस्पतौ आश्चर्यभूतं लोकस्य भस्मराशीकृतं तदा यद्वृक्षं जीवयामास काश्यपस्तक्षकेण वै नूनं मन्त्रैर्हतविषो न प्रणश्येत काश्यपात् चिन्तयामास पापात्मा मनसा पन्नगाधमः दष्टं यदि मया विप्रः पार्थिवं जीवयिष्यति तक्षकः संहतविषो लोके यास्यति हास्यताम् विचिन्त्यैवं कृता तेन ध्रुवं तुष्टिर्द्विजस्य वै भविष्यति ह्युपायेन यस्य दास्यामि यातनाम्
जनमेजय उवाच एतत्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि अटव्यां निर्जने वने संवादं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य काश्यपस्य च यत्तदा
AI Translation: Janamejaya said: I wish to hear about that conversation between the king of serpents and Kashyapa in the desolate forest.
केन दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि भवतां श्रोत्रमागतम् श्रुत्वा चाथ विधास्यामि पन्नगान्तकरीं मतिम्
AI Translation: Who has seen or heard of it? Has it come to your ears? Having heard, I shall form the thought of destroying the serpents.
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः शृणु राजन्यथास्माकं येनैतत्कथितं पुरा समागमं द्विजेन्द्रस्य पन्नगेन्द्रस्य चाध्वनि
M. N. Dutt: The Ministers said : O king, hear from whom we heard the conversation between that king of the Brahmanas and the king of the snakes.
तस्मिन्वृक्षे नरः कश्चिदिन्धनार्थाय पार्थिव विचिन्वन्पूर्वमारूढः शुष्कशाखं वनस्पतिम् अबुध्यमानौ तं तत्र वृक्षस्थं पन्नगद्विजौ
M. N. Dutt: O king, a certain man had climbed that lord of the forest to collect its dry twigs for sacrificial fuel.
स तु तेनैव वृक्षेण भस्मीभूतोऽभवत्तदा द्विजप्रभावाद्राजेन्द्र जीवितः सवनस्पतिः
AI Translation: But he was reduced to ashes by that very tree. By the power of the brahmin, O king, the tree came back to life.
तेन गत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ नगरेऽस्मिन्निवेदितम् यथावृत्तं तु तत्सर्वं तक्षकस्य द्विजस्य च
AI Translation: Having gone there, O best of kings, it was reported in this city The whole story of the brahmin Takṣaka.
एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम् श्रुत्वा तु नृपशार्दूल प्रकुरुष्व यथेप्सितम्
AI Translation: Thus, O king, I have told you what happened, as I heard it. Having heard it, O tiger among kings, do what you wish.
सूत उवाच मन्त्रिणां तु वचः श्रुत्वा स राजा जनमेजयः पर्यतप्यत दुःखार्तः प्रत्यपिंषत्करे करम्
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said : Having heard the words of the ministers, the king Janamejaya began to weep in grief and squeezed his hands.
निःश्वासमुष्णमसकृद्दीर्घं राजीवलोचनः मुमोचाश्रूणि च तदा नेत्राभ्यां प्रततं नृपः उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः
M. N. Dutt: The lotus-eyed king breathed long and hot breaths; the king shed tears and wept aloud.
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.34 K4 Ñ2 Dn D1.2.4 ins. after 34ef: V1 (om. line 3), after 34cd: *431 दुर्धरं बाष्पमुत्सृज्य स्पृष्ट्वा चापो यथाविधि मुहूर्तमिव च ध्यात्वा निश्चित्य मनसा नृपः अमर्षी मन्त्रिणः सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
श्रुत्वैतद्भवतां वाक्यं पितुर्मे स्वर्गतिं प्रति निश्चितेयं मम मतिर्या वै तां मे निबोधत
AI Translation: Having heard these words of yours about my father's going to heaven, This is my firm resolve, know it.
अनन्तरमहं मन्ये तक्षकाय दुरात्मने प्रतिकर्तव्यमित्येव येन मे हिंसितः पिता
AI Translation: Then I thought, "I must avenge myself on the wicked Takshaka, who killed my father."
ऋषेर्हि शृङ्गेर्वचनं कृत्वा दग्ध्वा च पार्थिवम् यदि गच्छेदसौ पापो ननु जीवेत्पिता मम
AI Translation: Having acted according to the words of the sage Śṛṅga, and having burned the king, if that wicked one goes, would my father not live?
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.37 Ñ2.3 V1 B (B2 missing) Dn D1.2.4.6.7 ins. after 37ab: K4 Da D3, after 37cd: *432 इयं दुरात्मता तस्य काश्यपं यो न्यवर्तयत्
परिहीयेत किं तस्य यदि जीवेत्स पार्थिवः काश्यपस्य प्रसादेन मन्त्रिणां सुनयेन च
M. N. Dutt: What harm could have possibly come to him if the king had revived by the grace of Kashyapa and the precautions taken by the ministers?
स तु वारितवान्मोहात्काश्यपं द्विजसत्तमम् संजिजीवयिषुं प्राप्तं राजानमपराजितम्
M. N. Dutt: He, being ignorant of my anger, prevented that best of Brahmana, Kashyapa, from coming to my unconquerable father.
महानतिक्रमो ह्येष तक्षकस्य दुरात्मनः द्विजस्य योऽददद्द्रव्यं मा नृपं जीवयेदिति
M. N. Dutt: The aggression of the wretch Takshaka is great, for he gave wealth to the Brahmana, so that he might not revive the king.
उत्तङ्कस्य प्रियं कुर्वन्नात्मनश्च महत्प्रियम् भवतां चैव सर्वेषां यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः
M. N. Dutt: I must avenge myself on my father's enemy, to please myself, to please Uttanka and you all.
Supplementary Passages:
1.46.41 After 41, K4 ins.: *433 सर्पसत्रं विधास्यामि नागानां क्षयकारकम्