'"
SECTION XLI
(Astika Parva continued)
"Sauti said, 'Being thus addressed, and hearing that his sire was bearing
a dead snake, the powerful Sringin burned with wrath. And looking at Krisa,
and speaking softly, he asked him, 'Pray, why doth my father bear today a
dead snake?' And Krisa replied, 'Even as king Parikshit was roving, for
purpose of hunting, O dear one, he placed the dead snake on the shoulder
of thy sire.'
"And Sringin asked, 'What wrong was done to that wicked monarch by my
father? O Krisa, tell me this, and witness the power of my asceticism.'
"And Krisa answered, 'King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu, while hunting,
had wounded a fleet stag with an arrow and chased it alone. And the king
lost sight of the animal in that extensive wilderness. Seeing then thy
sire, he immediately accosted him. Thy sire was then observing the vow of
silence. Oppressed by hunger, thirst and labour, the prince again and
again asked thy sire sitting motionless, about the missing deer. The sage,
being under the vow of silence, returned no reply. The king thereupon
placed the snake on thy sire's shoulder with the end of his bow. O Sringin,
thy sire engaged in devotion is in the same posture still. And the king
also hath gone to his capital which is named after the elephant!'
"Sauti continued, 'Having heard of a dead snake placed upon his (father's)
shoulders, the son of the Rishi, his eyes reddened with anger, blazed up
with rage.
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