' His mother Sarama hearing
this and much distressed at the affliction of her son went to the place
where Janamejaya with his brothers was at his long-extending sacrifice.
And she addressed Janamejaya in anger, saying, 'This my son hath committed
no fault: he hath not looked upon your sacrificial butter, nor hath he
touched it with his tongue. Wherefore hath he been beaten?' They said not
a word in reply; whereupon she said, 'As ye have beaten my son who hath
committed no fault, therefore shall evil come upon ye, when ye least
expect it.'
"Janamejaya, thus addressed by the celestial bitch, Sarama, became
exceedingly alarmed and dejected. And after the sacrifice was concluded
returned to Hastinapura, and began to take great pains in searching for a
Purohita who could by procuring absolution for his sin, neutralise the
effect of the curse.
"One day Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, while a-hunting, observed in a
particular part of his dominions a hermitage where dwelt a certain Rishi
of fame, Srutasrava. He had a son named Somasrava deeply engaged in
ascetic devotions. Being desirous of appointing that son of the Rishi as
his Purohita, Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, saluted the Rishi and
addressed him, saying, 'O possessor of the six attributes, let this thy
son be my purohita.' The Rishi thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, 'O
Janamejaya, this my son, deep in ascetic devotions, accomplished in the
study of the Vedas, and endued with the full force of my asceticism, is
born of (the womb of) a she-snake that had drunk my vital fluid.
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