novelraw Arc 3 - Astika - Chapter 17 - Astika’s Arrival
Arc 3 - Astika - Chapter 17 - Astika’s Arrival
Sauti continued:
When the Ritwiks, masters of sacred rites,
began to pour clarified butter into the flames,
chanting names of serpents with precise intonation,
the fire flared, a tongue of divine judgment.
Then fell the snakes, dreadful and many,
coiling, hissing, crying aloud in terror.
The fat and marrow of their burning forms
ran in dark rivulets, flowing upward unnaturally—
against the will of gravity, as though seeking escape.
The stench of burning flesh and scale
choked the air; it was insufferable.
The atmosphere turned foul;
even the wind seemed burdened with grief.
From the sky, from the earth, from the waters,
the serpents came, as though summoned by doom.
Some shrieked as they plunged.
Others hovered in fear, their cries echoing
in a growing chorus of lamentation.
But far from the ritual grounds, in dread and urgency,
Takshaka, prince of serpents and son of Kadru,
learned of the rite begun in wrath by Janamejaya,
and a great terror gripped his heart.
He flew through the heavens,
serpent turned suppliant,
to the court of Purandara—Indra,
lord of the skies and king of gods.
Before Indra he bowed, coils loosened in fear,
and told all that had passed—
the curse, the sacrifice, the fire,
and his own act against Parikshit.
With voice trembling and fangs concealed,
he begged for shelter, protection from destruction.
And Indra, pleased with his humility, and already reconciled by the pleas of Brahma, said unto him:
“O Takshaka, prince among serpents,
be not afraid. Here, in my heavenly court,
no fire shall touch thee.
For thy sake I have already pacified
the Grandsire Brahma,
and thy life shall be preserved.
Let thy heart be at ease.”
Thus protected, Takshaka remained
hidden in the celestial abode of the gods,
while below, the fire roared, and the snakes burned.
Thus tormented by grief, Vasuki,
king of the serpents,
his heart shattered by the sight of
his kin falling one by one into the sacred flame,
summoned his sister, pale and trembling.
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With trembling voice and tear-laden eyes,
he spoke:
“O sister mine, noble daughter of our race,
the fire of sacrifice scorches my soul.
The sky dims before me; the stars fade.
My limbs fail me, and my thoughts reel—
I feel I shall fall next into the flames.
My people, my blood, my house—all perish.
The curse of our mother now consumes us whole.
But you, O best of Naga women,
were given unto the sage Jaratkaru
for this very moment.
The Grandsire, Brahma himself,
foretold that from your womb
a protector shall arise.
That protector, your son Astika,
pure in conduct, versed in the Vedas,
and revered even by the wise,
shall bring this destruction to an end.
Go to him, child of virtue.
Entreat him with all your heart.
Let not your son delay,
for the time has come
to fulfill the purpose of his birth.”
Then the snake-dame Jaratkaru, calling her son, spoke to him in accordance with Vasuki’s direction:
“O son, the time has come to fulfill the purpose for which I was given in marriage to your father by my brother. Therefore, rise and do what must be done.”
And Astika said:
“Tell me, O mother, why you were bestowed on my father by my uncle. Speak truthfully, so that I may understand and act accordingly.”
Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of snakes, unmoved by the general distress and always intent on the welfare of her kin, spoke unto her son:
“O son, know that Kadru is regarded as the mother of all snakes. In wrath, she once cursed her sons. When her children refused to deceive Vinita by falsely declaring the tail of Ucchaishravas, the celestial horse, as black, she grew angry and said: ‘As you have disobeyed me in this matter, you shall all perish in the snake sacrifice of King Janamejaya. There, Vayu, in the form of the sacrificial fire, shall consume you, and your souls shall pass to the region of the unredeemed.’
At that moment, the Grandsire of all beings, hearing Kadru’s words, confirmed them, saying, ‘Be it so.’ Thus was her curse affirmed.
Vasuki, hearing the curse and the confirmation of the Grandsire, was deeply distressed and sought protection from the gods. Later, when the churning of the ocean for Amrita was complete and the gods had succeeded in obtaining the nectar, Vasuki, leading them, once again approached the Grandsire. Together, the gods and Vasuki humbly entreated him, who was born of the lotus, to show mercy and render Kadru’s curse fruitless.”
And the gods said unto Brahma, “O Lord, Vasuki, the king of snakes, is overwhelmed with sorrow for the fate of his kin. How may his mother Kadru’s curse be rendered abortive?”
Brahma replied, “Jaratkaru shall take a wife also named Jaratkaru. A brahmana son born of her will be the savior of the serpents.”
Hearing these words from the Grandsire, Vasuki, the best among snakes, sought out thy high-souled father and bestowed me—his sister—upon him in marriage, O thou of godlike appearance. That union took place before the commencement of this fearful sacrifice, and from it, you were born.
Now the time has come. It is for you to protect us from this dire threat. Save me, your mother, and save my brother Vasuki from the sacrificial fire, that the purpose for which I was given in marriage be not rendered vain.
What say you, O my son?
Then the gods, moved by the anguish of Vasuki, spoke unto Brahma:
“O Lord of all creatures, Vasuki, the king of serpents, is consumed by sorrow.
Can his mother Kadru’s dreadful curse be undone? Shall the snake race be saved?”
To them the Grandsire, creator of the worlds, thus spoke with calm foresight:
“Let Jaratkaru, the sage, take to wife a maiden of the same name—Jaratkaru.
From their union shall be born a son, wise and resolute,
A Brahmana of great merit, who shall halt the burning of the serpents.
He shall be their deliverer.”
Hearing this, Vasuki, the noble serpent king,
Acted swiftly, and offered me, his sister, unto thy father,
The ascetic of rigid vows, before this very sacrifice began.
And from that marriage, O child of bright destiny, you were born.
Now the time foretold has arrived.
O son,
Rise now, and fulfill that purpose divine—
Save us, your mother and your uncle Vasuki,
Lest the sacred vow for which I was given
Fall unfulfilled into the fire’s cruel embrace.
What do you think, O son of dharma?
Sauti continued:
Thus addressed by his mother, the noble Astika bowed his head in assent and said,
“Yes, I shall do it.”
Then turning to the stricken Vasuki, whose heart was broken with dread,
He spoke as though breathing life into his fading hope:
“O Vasuki, best among serpents, great one of noble soul,
Hear now my words, for I speak the truth.
Truly do I say—I shall relieve thee from this ancient curse.
Be at ease, O King of the snakes,
For there is no more fear.
I shall strive with all my heart,
That good may come of this dreadful rite.
Never has it been said—even in jest—that my words were false.
And now, in so solemn a matter, let my resolve speak for itself.
Today I shall go to the sacrificial hall,
Where Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, is installed in sacred duty.
With words full of blessing and humble praise,
I shall seek to turn his heart.
O high-minded one, O king of the serpents,
Believe in me, and in the strength of my vow—
For my resolve, once made, shall never go unfulfilled.”
And Vasuki, overwhelmed with dread, cried out:
“O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks.
The four quarters fade before my eyes—
I cannot discern the directions of the earth.
This curse, laid by our own mother, burns within me like a fever.”
But Astika, steadfast and serene, replied:
“O best of serpents, grieve not.
It is not fitting for you, born of might and wisdom, to despair.
That fire, which blazes now with the wrath of fate—
That terrible punishment, fierce as the flame
That ends the yuga—I shall quench it.
Be still, O king of the Nagas.
Let your fear depart—
For I, your sister’s son,
Shall see this curse undone.”
Sauti continued:
Though barred at first by the vigilant doorkeepers,
The noble Brahmana, Astika—mighty in penance and purpose—
Won them over with gentle words and a countenance radiant with virtue.
Thus, permitted at last, he entered the sacrificial compound.
There, in that vast enclosure where flames danced with sacred power,
The illustrious Astika, foremost among the virtuous,
Approached with humility and reverence.
He bowed to King Janamejaya, lord of infinite achievements,
Offered salutations to the Ritwiks and the wise Sadasyas,
And made due obeisance to the blazing sacrificial fires,
Each kindled with holy chants and fed with clarified butter.
Then Astika, possessed of serene countenance and the luster of austerity, entered the sacrificial compound. With reverence in his heart and wisdom on his tongue, he approached the assembly where King Janamejaya, the Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and the sacred fires shone like celestial stars in a ritual firmament. Standing amidst them, he raised his voice in praise, and his words flowed like the Ganga—pure, melodious, and exalted:
"Salutations to thee, O Janamejaya,
Scion of heroes, lord of righteous sway,
By whose command the ancient rites are stirred,
And Veda's breath in sacred fire is heard.
Salute I next the holy priestly line,
Ritwiks who chant with accents so divine—
Whose minds are fixed like dhruva in the sky,
Upon the rites that lift the soul on high.
Ye Sadasyas, firm in scripture’s art,
Who judge each rite with discriminating heart,
Your presence here is like the stars above,
Bestowing brilliance, justice, dharma, love.
And thou, O Agni, messenger of gods,
Who through the ghee along the heavens plods,
May thy tongues, blazing with mantric song,
Bear our praise and offerings swift and strong."