Therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it behoveth you not to bite me.
But go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away thou snake of virulent poison,
and remember the words of Astika after the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya.
That snake who does not cease from biting after hearing such mention of
Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa
tree.'
"Sauti continued, 'That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the foremost
of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. And the
high-souled one then set his heart upon going away.
"And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the snake-
sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and
grandsons behind him.
'Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it happened.
Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of snakes.'
'Sauti continued, 'O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, as thy
ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated unto his inquiring son Ruru, and
as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the
beginning, of the learned Astika. And, O Brahmana, O oppressor of all
enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue,
and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the
Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied.'"
SECTION LIX
(Adivansavatarana Parva)
"Saunaka said, 'O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and great
history commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234