Mahabharata episode 36 Parikshinmantrisamvada

 

The ministers said: “the king, who was hungry and tired, lifted the snake on the shoulder of that sage and returned to his city.

 

That sage had a son born of a cow named Shringi who was Mahayashasvi, Mahatejasvi, Tigmavirya, and short tempered.

 

O Janamejaya! Kurushardula! That sage went to Brahma and worshipped him. Once, while he was returning, his friend told him about the insult he had done to his father, saying, “Your father has placed a dead snake on his shoulders!”

O king! Your father had insulted that great ascetic, a sage, a virtuous, pure, a man of wondrous deeds, whose soul and limbs were radiant with penance, a man of good fortune, a man of good words, steadfast, free from attachment, unsullied, old, and bound to silence, the refuge of all beings.

 

Hearing this, the son of the great sage, who was a youth but great, became enraged and cursed your father.

 

Immediately he touched the water and, blazing with anger, addressed your father and said:

 

“The sinner who has given my guru a deadly serpent, the serpent takshaka will burn him with his poison within seven nights from today. Let that sinner see the power of my penance!”

 

Having said this, he went to his father, found him and reported the curse.

 

Then that Munishardula sent a message to your father: “O Mahipat! You have been cursed by my son. Your Majesty! Takshaka is going to burn you with his brilliance.”

 

O Janamejaya! Hearing those harsh words, your father took all possible precautions to escape from Pannagottama Taksaka.

 

When the seventh day came, the Brahmarshi Kasyapa was eager to come to the king.

 

Then Nagendra Takshaka saw Kashyapa. Pannagendra takshaka asked Kashyapa, who was coming in a hurry: "Where are you going in such a hurry and what is your business there?"

 

Kashyapa said: "Dvija! I am going in a hurry to treat the Kuru king named Pariksita, who is about to be bitten by the serpent Takshaka, so that he does not die from the bite of that serpent."

 

Takshaka said: "Why do you want to keep alive the one I bite? Tell me what your desire is. I will give you whatever you are going there for."

 

The ministers said: “When he said, “I am going there for the sake of money,” he spoke these respectful and commendable words to that great man:

“Great one! Accept from me more wealth than you want to ask from the king and return.”

 

Hearing those words of Nagendra takshaka, the great Kashyapa received as much wealth as he wanted from Takshaka and returned.

 

After that bramhin left, Takshaka transformed himself into a bramhin and went to the palace, the most pious king parikshita, who was in the palace, and was burnt with his poisonous fire. Male tiger! After this, you were crowned king.

 

Most unfortunate! We have told you truthfully, even though it was terrible, what we have seen and heard.

 

Most unfortunate! You have heard about the defeats of Parthiva and then of the sage Uttanka. Do what you think is right.”

 

Janamejaya said: “I would like to know who saw or heard the conversation between Pannagendra takshaka and Kashyapa in the deserted forest that you have just reported. After hearing it, I will inform you of my decision regarding the destruction of the nagas.”

 

The ministers said: “King! Listen from whom we heard the conversation between bramhin kashyapa and Pannagendra takshaka earlier. A certain man was climbing a tree for fuel and cutting dry branches from the tree into firewood. But neither Pannaga takshaka nor bramhin kashyapa saw him in that tree.

 

He too was burnt to ashes along with that tree, and king! He was revived by the influence of that bramhin kashyapa along with the same tree.

 

Hey king! He himself came to this city and reported everything about Takshaka and bramhin kashyapa in detail.

King! Thus we have reported what we have done and heard. Having heard this, do as you wish.”

 

The Suta said: “Hearing the words of the ministers, King Janamejaya wrung his hands and wept in grief.

 

That royal councillor, King, heaving a long, hot sigh and shedding tears from his eyes, said in a state of grief and sorrow:

 

“I have heard from you how my father attained the heavenly state. Now know the firm resolve of my mind.

 

Let us not delay in taking revenge on the evil spirit Takshaka, who tortured my father.

 

He it was who made the words of the sage Shringi come true and burned my father. If this sinner had gone, my father would have been alive.

 

If my father had lived by the grace of Kashyapa and according to the plan of the ministers, what would he have lost?

 

He himself, out of lust, stopped bramhin Kashyapa, who was coming to revive the undefeated king.

 

The evil deed of the evil-minded Takshaka, who gave wealth to that bramhin so that the king would not be revived, was great offence.

 

In order to do what is dear to Uttanka, to please you all and me, I will take revenge for my father’s death.”

 

This is the forty-sixth chapter of the Parikshinmantrisamvada in the Adiparva of the Astikaparva of the Sri Mahabharata.