Then he concluded his sacrifice according to the prescribed rites,
and after treating him with every respect, the king in joy sent home the
wise Astika exceedingly gratified, for he had attained his object. And the
king said unto him, 'Thou must come again to become a Sadasya in my great
Horse-sacrifice.' And Astika said, 'yes' and then returned home in great
joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. And
returning in joy to his uncle and mother and touching their feet, he
recounted to them everything as it had happened.'
"Sauti continued, 'Hearing all he had said, the snakes that had come
thither became very much delighted, and their fears were allayed. They
were much pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, 'O
learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much
gratified, having been all saved by thee. What shall we accomplish for
thee, O child!'
"Astika 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.' And the snakes in
joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the nature of thy boon, let it be
exactly as thou sayest. That which thou askest we all shall cheerfully do,
O nephew! And those also that call to mind Astika, 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 Astika born of
Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice.
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