Nurse not thy fear any longer.'
"Sauti continued, 'Then that best of Brahmanas, Astika, quelling the
terrible fear of the Vasuki's heart, and taking it, as it were, on himself,
wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to
Janamejaya's sacrifice blessed with every merit. And Astika having gone
thither, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound with numerous Sadasyas
on it whose splendour was like unto that of the Sun or Agni. But that best
of Brahmanas was refused admittance by the door-keepers. And the mighty
ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial
compound. And that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of all virtuous men,
having entered the excellent sacrificial compound, began to adore the king
of infinite achievements, Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred
fire.'"
SECTION LV
(Astika Parva continued)
"Astika said, 'Soma and Varuna and Prajapati performed sacrifices of old
in Prayaga. But thy sacrifice, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of
Parikshit, is not inferior to any of those. Let those dear unto us be
blessed! Sakra performed a hundred sacrifices. But this sacrifice of thine,
O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit, is fully equal to
ten thousand sacrifices of Sakra. Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like
the sacrifice of Yama, of Harimedha, or of king Rantideva, is the
sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit.
Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Maya, of king
Sasavindu, or of king Vaisravana, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost
one of Bharata's race, O son of Satyavati, in which he himself was the
chief priest, is this sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son of
Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O
son of Parikshit.
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