"On the road, Utanka viewed that a naked idle beggar coming towards him sometimes coming in view (of Utanka) and sometimes disappearing (from the view of Utanka). Utanka put the ear-rings on the ground and went for water. In the meantime the beggar, came quickly to the spot and taking up the ear-rings ran away. Utanka having completed his washing in water, purified himself and having also respectfully bowed down to Devas and his spiritual masters, (and then) chased the thief (that naked idle beggar) with the utmost speed. Having with great difficulty overtaken him, he (Utanka) catched him (beggar) by force. But at that instant the person catched, quitting the form of a beggar and assuming his real form - that of Takshaka (King of snakes), speedily entered a large hole open in the ground. Having got in, Takshaka proceeded to his own region, the Nagaloka.
"Now, Utanka, recollecting the words of the Queen, followed the Snake (Takshaka), and began to dig open the hole with a stick but was unable to make much progress. (Lord) Indra seeing his suffering sent his Vajra to his assistance. Then the Vajra entering that stick and enlarged that hole. Utanka began to enter the hole after the Vajra. Having entered it, he saw the Nagaloka infinite in area, filled with hundreds of palaces and elegant mansions with towers and domes and gate-ways, filled with wonderful places for various games and entertainments. Utanka then glorified the snakes by the following slokas:
"O Snakes, subjects of King Airavata, splendid in battle and showering weapons in the (battle)field like lightning-charged clouds driven by the winds! O children of Airavata, handsome and of various forms and decked with many coloured ear-rings, you shine like the Sun in the sky! On the northern banks of Ganga are many habitations of snakes. There I constantly adore the great snakes. Who except Airavata would desire to move in the burning rays of the Sun? When Dhritarashtra (Airavata's brother) goes out, twenty-eight thousand and eight (28,008) snakes follow him as his attendants. You who move near him and you who stay at a distance from him, I adore all of you that have Airavata for your elder brother. O Takshaka, also I adore you, to obtain the ear-rings, who formerly stayed in Kurukshetra and the forest of Khandava! Takshaka and Ashwasena, you are constant companions who stay in Kurukshetra on the banks of the Ikshumati! I also adore the illustrious Srutasena, the younger brother of Takshaka, who resided at the holy place called Mahadyumna with a view to obtaining the Chiefship of snakes.
"The Brahmana Rishi Utanka having saluted the chief snakes in this manner, however, did not obtain the ear-rings. He immediately became very thoughtful. When he saw that he did not obtain the ear-rings even though he had adored the snakes, he then looked about him and saw two women at a loom weaving a piece of cloth with a fine shuttle; and in the loom were black and white threads. He likewise saw a wheel, with twelve spokes, turned by six boys. He also saw a man with a handsome horse. He began to address them the following mantras:
"This wheel whose circumference is marked by twenty-four divisions representing as many lunar changes is furnished with three hundred spokes! It is set in continual motion by six boys (the seasons)! These ladies representing universal nature are weaving without intermission a cloth with threads black and white, and thereby ushering into existence many worlds and the beings that inhabit them! O wielder of Vajra (Lord Indra), the protector of the universe, the slayer of Vritra and Namuchi, you illustrious one who wears the black cloth and displays truth and untruth in the universe, you who owns for your carrier the horse which was received from the depths of the ocean (Uchchaihshravas), and which is nothing but another form of Agni, I bow to you, O supreme Lord, O Lord of the three worlds, O Purandara!'
"Then the man with the horse said to Utanka, 'I am please by this your adoration. What good shall I do to you?'
"Utanka replied, 'Let the snakes be brought under my control.'
"Then the man said, 'Blow into this horse.'
"Utanka blew into that horse. From the horse thus blown into, there issued, from every opening of his (horse's) body, flames of fire with smoke by which the Nagaloka was about to be consumed. Takshaka, surprised beyond measure and terrified by the heat of the fire, quickly came out of his residence taking the ear-rings with him, and said to Utanka, 'Pray, Sir, take back the ear-rings.' Utanka took them back.
"But Utanka having recovered his ear-rings thought, 'O, this is that sacred day of my Guru matha. I am at a distance (from my Guru's ashrama). How can I, therefore, show my regard for her?' When Utanka was anxious about this, the man (on the horse) addressed him and said, 'Ride this horse, Utanka, and he will in a moment carry you to your Guru's ashrama.' Utanka having signified his acceptance, mounted the horse and presently reached his Guru's house.
"His Guru matha that morning after having bathed was dressing her hair sitting, thinking of uttering a curse on Utanka if he should not return within time. But, in the meantime, Utanka entered his Guru's house and paid his respects to his Guru matha and presented her the ear-rings. She said 'Utanka, you have arrived at the proper time at the proper place. Welcome, my child; you are innocent and therefore I do not curse you! Good fortune is before you. Let your wishes be crowned with success!'
"Then Utanka waited on his Guru (Veda). His Guru said, 'You are welcome! What has happened during your long absence?'
"Utanka replied to his Guru, 'Sir, in the execution of this my business obstruction, was offered by Takshaka, the King of snakes. Therefore I had to go to the Nagaloka. There I saw two ladies sitting at a loom, weaving a fabric with black and white threads. Please explain, what is that? There likewise I saw a wheel with twelve spokes without stopping was turned by six boys. What does that mean to? Who is also the man that I saw? What the horse of extraordinary size likewise seen by me? When I was on the road, I also saw a bull with a man mounted thereon, by whom I was affectionately addressed thus, 'Utanka, eat of the dung of this bull, which was also eaten by your master?' So I ate of the dung of that bull according to his words. Also, who is he? Therefore, enlightened by you, I desire to hear all about them.'
"His Guru (Veda) thus addressed said to him, 'The two ladies you have seen are Dhata and Vidhata; the black and white threads denote night and day; the wheel of twelve spokes turned by the six boys signified the year comprising six seasons. The man is Parjanya, the deity of rain, and the horse is Agni, the god of fire. The bull that you have seen on the road is Airavata, the king of elephants; the man mounted thereon is (Lord) Indra; and the dung of the bull which was eaten by you was Amrita (nectar in English). It was certainly for this (eating of Amrita) that you have not met with death in the Nagaloka; and (Lord) Indra who is my friend having been mercifully inclined showed you favour. It is for this that you returned safe, with the ear-rings about you. Then, O you friendly one, I give you leave to depart. You shall obtain good fortune.'
"Utanka, having obtained his master's leave, moved by anger and resolved to avenge himself on Takshaka, proceeded towards Hastinapura. That excellent Brahmana (Utanka) soon reached Hastinapura. Utanka then waited upon King Janamejaya who had some time before returned victorious from Takshashila (possibly present-day Taxila in Rawalpindi district, Pakistan). Utanka saw the victorious monarch (Janamejaya) surrounded on all sides by his ministers. He pronounced blessings on him in a proper form. Utanka addressed the monarch at the proper moment in speech of correct accent and melodious sounds, saying, 'O you the best of monarchs! How is it that you spend your time like a child when there is another matter that urgently demands your attention?'"
"Soota said, 'The monarch Janamejaya, thus addressed, saluting that excellent Brahmana (Utanka) replied to him, 'In cherishing these my subjects, I do discharge the duties of my Kshatriya kula. Say, what is that business to be done by me and which has brought you here.'
"The foremost of Brahmanas and distinguished beyond all for good actions (Utanka), thus addressed by the excellent monarch of large heart, replied to him, 'O King (Janamejaya)! the business is your own that demands your attention; therefore do it, please. O you King of kings (Janamejaya)! Your father (Parikshit) was deprived of life by Takshaka; therefore you do take revenge for your father's death on that wicked snake (Takshaka). I think the time has come for the act of vengeance ordained by the Fate. Go then, take revenge for the death of your magnanimous father who, being bitten without cause by that wicked serpent, was reduced to five elements like a tree stricken by Vajra. The wicked Takshaka, wicked of the snake race, intoxicated with power committed an unnecessary act when he bit the King (Parikshit), that god-like father, the protector of the race of Rajarishis (Rajarishis means kings). Wicked in his activities, he (Takshaka) even caused Kashyapa (the prince of physicians) to run back when he was coming for the relief of your father. It is your duty to burn the wicked wretch (Takshaka) in the blazing fire of a Naga yajna. O King (Janamejaya)! Give instant orders for the yajna. It is thus you can take revenge for the death of your father. A very great favour shall have also been shown to me. For by that poisonous wretch (Takshaka), O virtuous Prince (Janamejaya), my business also was, on one occasion, obstructed, while proceeding on account of my Guru."
"Soota continued, 'The monarch (Janamejaya), having heard these words, was enraged with Takshaka. By the speech of Utanka was inflamed the prince (Janamejaya), as the sacrificial fire with clarified butter. Moved by grief also, in the presence of Utanka, the prince asked his ministers the particulars of his father's (Parikshit's) journey to the regions of the blessed. When he heard all about the circumstances of his father's (Parikshit's) death from the lips of Utanka, he was overcome with pain and sorrow.
"Thus ends the section called Paushya of the Adi Parva of the blessed Mahabharata."
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