(Astika Parva continued)
Sauti said, "That best of snakes, viz., Vasuki, hearing the curse of his
mother, reflected how to render it abortive. He held a consultation with
all his brothers, Airavata and others, intent upon doing what they deemed
best for themselves.
"And Vasuki said, 'O ye sinless ones, the object of this curse is known to
you. It behoveth us to strive to neutralise it. Remedies certainly exist
for all curses, but no remedy can avail those cursed by their mother.
Hearing that this curse hath been uttered in the presence of the Immutable,
the Infinite, and the True one, my heart trembleth. Surely, our
annihilation hath come. Otherwise why should not the Immutable Lord
prevent our mother while uttering the curse? Therefore, let us consult
today how we may secure the safety of the snakes. Let us not waste time.
All of you are wise and discerning. We will consult together and find out
the means of deliverance as (did) the gods of yore to regain lost Agni who
had concealed himself within a cave, so that Janamejaya's sacrifice for
the destruction of the snakes may not take place, and so that we may not
meet with destruction.'"
Sauti continued, "Thus addressed all the offspring of Kadru assembled
together, and, wise in counsels, submitted their opinions to one another.
One party of the serpents said, 'We should assume the guise of superior
Brahmanas, and beseech Janamejaya, saying, "This (intended) sacrifice of
yours ought not to take place."' Other snakes thinking themselves wise,
said, 'We should all become his favourite counsellors. He will then
certainly ask for our advice in all projects. And we will then give him
such advice that the sacrifice may be obstructed. The king, the foremost
of wise men, thinking us of sterling worth will certainly ask us about his
sacrifice. We will say, "It must not be!" And pointing to many serious
evils in this and the next worlds, we will take care that the sacrifice
may not take place. Or, let one of the snakes, approaching, bite the
person who, intending the monarch's good, and well-acquainted with the
rites of the snake-sacrifice, may be appointed as the sacrificial priest,
so that he will die. The sacrificial priest dying, the sacrifice will not
be completed. We will also bite all those who, acquainted with the rites
of the snake-sacrifice, may be appointed Ritwiks of the sacrifice, and by
that means attain our object.' Other snakes, more virtuous and kind, said,
'O, this counsel of yours is evil. It is not meet to kill Brahmanas. In
danger, that remedy is proper, which is blessed on the practices of the
righteous. Unrighteousness finally destroyeth the world.' Other serpents
said, 'We will extinguish the blazing sacrificial fire by ourselves
becoming clouds luminous with lightning and pouring down showers.' Other
snakes, the best of their kind, proposed, 'Going, by night, let us steal
away the vessel of Soma juice. That will disturb the rite. Or, at that
sacrifice, let the snakes, by hundreds and thousands, bite the people, and
spread terror around. Or, let the serpents defile the pure food with their
food-defiling urine and dung.' Others said, 'Let us become the king's
Ritwiks, and obstruct his sacrifice by saying at the outset, "Give us the
sacrificial fee." He (the king), being placed in our power, will do
whatever we like.' Others there said, 'When the king will sport in the
waters, we will carry him to our home and bind him, so that that sacrifice
will not take place!' Other serpents who deemed themselves wise, said,
'Approaching the king, let us bite him, so that our object will be
accomplished. By his death the root of all evil will be torn up. This is
the final deliberation of us all, O thou who hearest with thy eyes! Then,
do speedily what thou deemest proper.' Having said this, they looked
intently at Vasuki, that best of snakes. And Vasuki also, after reflecting,
answered saying, 'Ye snakes, this final determination of you doth not seem
worthy of adoption. The advice of you all is not to my liking. What shall
I say which would be for your good? I think the grace of the illustrious
Kasyapa (our father) can alone do us good. Ye snakes, my heart doth not
know which of all your suggestions is to be adopted for the welfare of my
race as also of me. That must be done by me which would be to your weal.
It is this that makes me so anxious, for the credit or the discredit (of
the measure) is mine alone.'"
So ends the thirty-seventh section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.