SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - AADI PARVA - AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA - PART 58

"Soota said, 'Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connection with Aastika. When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by granting the boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off (Lord) Indra's hands, remained in mid air without actually falling. King Janamejaya immediately became curious, for Takshaka, pained with fear, did not at once fall into the fire although libations were poured in proper form into the blazing sacrificial Agni in his name.'

"(Rishi) Saunaka said, 'Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas were not powerful; since Takshaka did not fall into the fire?'

"Soota replied, 'To the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, after he had been put off (Lord) Indra's hands, Aastika had thrice said, 'Stay,' 'Stay,' 'Stay.' He succeeded in staying in the skies, with pained heart, like a person somehow staying between the heaven and the earth.

"The king (Janamejaya) then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, 'Let it be done as Aastika has said. Let the yagna be ended, let the snakes (Naagaa in Sanskrit) be safe, let this Aastika also be gratified, O Soota, your words also be true.' When the boon was granted to Aastika, plaudits expressive of joy rang through the air. Thus the yagna of the son of Parikshit (Janamejaya)--that king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, and on all who had come there, the king, gifted money by hundreds and thousands.

"To Soota Lohitaksha--familiar with the rules of building and foundations--who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the Sarpa Satra (snake-sacrifice), the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing clothes, according to his desire, and became very much pleased.

"Then he (Janamejaya) concluded his yagna according to the prescribed rites, and after treating him with every respect, the king (Janamejaya) in joy sent home the wise Aastika exceedingly pleased, for he had attained his object. The king said to him (Rishi Aastika), 'You must come again to become a Sadasya in my great Ashwamedha (yagna).' Aastika said, 'yes' and then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. Returning in joy to his uncle (Vaasuki) and mother (Jaratkaaru) and touching their feet, he told to them everything as it had happened.'

"Soota continued, 'Hearing all he had said, the snakes (Naagaa in Sanskrit) that had come there became very much delighted, and their fears were removed. They were much pleased with Aastika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, 'O learned one, what good shall we do to you? We have been very much pleased, having been all saved by you. What shall we accomplish for you, O child!'

"Aastika said, 'Let those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the morning or in the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred account of this my act, have no fear from any of you.' The snakes in joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the nature of your boon, let it be exactly as you say. That which you ask we all shall cheerfully do, O nephew! Also, those that call to mind Aastika, Artiman and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, 'I call to mind the famous Aastika born of Jaratkaaru, that Aastika who saved the snakes from the Sarpa Satra Therefore, O snakes of great good fortune, it is your duty not to bite me. But you go away, blessed be you, or you go away snake of deadly poison, and remember the words of Aastika after the Sarpa Satra of Janamejaya. That snake who does not stop from biting after hearing such mention of Aastika, shall have his hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa tree.'

"Soota continued, 'That first of Brahmanas (Rishi Aastika), thus addressed by the foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much pleased. The high-souled one (Rishi Aastika) then set his heart upon going away.

"That best of Brahmanas (Rishi Aastika), having saved the snakes from the Sarpa Satra, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.

"Thus have I recited to you this history of Aastika exactly as it happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history (of Aastika) dispels all fear of snakes.

"Soota continued, "O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race (Rishi Shaunaka), as your ancestor Pramaati had cheerfully narrated to his inquiring son Ruru (Refer Aadi Parva - Pauloma (Upa) Parva - Part 12), and as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the beginning, of the learned Aastika. O Brahmana (Rishi Shaunaka), O oppressor of all enemies, having heard this holy history of Aastika that increases Dharma, and which you had asked me about after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let your burning curiosity be satisfied.'"