"The king then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said. 'Let it be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, O Suta, thy words also be true. When the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits expressive of joy rang through the air. Thus the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit that king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, and on all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds and thousands. And unto Sata Lohitaksha-conversant with the rules of building and foundations-who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desire, and became very much pleased. 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 leamed 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 stukes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, I call to mind the famous Astika bom of Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the make-sacrifice. 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 bearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundred fold 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 Dunduhha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied."
(Adivansavatarana Parva)
"Saunaka said, 'O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and great history commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu. O
son of Suta, I have been much gratified with thee, I ask thee again, to recite to me, O son of a Suta, the history composed by
Vyasa. The varied and wonderful narrations that were recited amongst those illustrious Sudasyas assembled at the sacrifice, in
the intervals of their duties of that long-extending ceremony, and the objects also of those narrations, desire to hear from thee.
O son of a Suta! Recite therefore, all those to me fully."
Sauti said, The Brahmanas, in the intervals of the duties, spoke of many things founded upon the Vedas. But Vyasa recited the
wonderful and great history called the Bharata
"Saunaka said, "That sacred history called the Mahabharata, spreading the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna-Dwaipayana.
asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited after the completion of the sacrifice. I desire to hear duly. That history hath been born of the ocean-like mind of the great Rishi of soul purified by yoga. Thou foremost of good men, recite it unto me, for, O son of a Suta, my thirst hath not been appeased by all thou hast said.
'Sauti said, 'I shall recite to thee from the beginning of that great and excellent history called the Mahabharata composed by
Vyasa. O Brahmana, listen to it in full, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it."
(Adivansavatarana Parva continued)
Sauti said, 'Hearing that Janamejaya was installed in the snake-sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana went thither on the occasion. And le, the grand-father of the Pandavas, was born in an island of the Yamuna, of the virgin Kali by Sakti's son, Parasara. And the illustrious one developed by his will alone his body as soon as he was born, and mastered the Vedas with their branches, and all the histories. And he readily obtained that which no one could obtain by asceticism, by the study of the Vedas, by vows, by fasts, by progeny, and by sacrifice. And the first of Veda-knowing ones, he divided the Vedas into four parts. And the Brahmana Rishi had knowledge of the supreme Brahma, knew the past by intuition, was holy, and cherished truth. Of sacred deeds and great fame, he begot Pandu and Dhritarashtra and Vidura in order to continue the line of Santanu
"And the high-souled Rishi, with his disciples all conversant with the Vedas and their branches, entered the sacrificial pavilion of the myal sage, Janamejaya. And he saw that the king Janamejaya was seated in the sacrificial region like the god Indra. surrounded by numerous Sadasyas, by kings of various countries whose coronal locks had undergone the sacred bath, and by competent Ritwiks like unto Brahman himself. And that foremost one of Bharata's race, the royal sage Janamejaya, beholding the Rishi come, advanced quickly with his followers and relatives in great joy. And the king with the approval of his Sadasyas, gave the Rishi a golden seat as Indra did to Vrihaspati. And when the Rishi, capable of granting boons and adored by the celestial Rishis themselves, had been seated, the king of kings worshipped him according to the rites of the scriptures. And the king then offered him--his grandfather Krishna-who fully deserved them, water to wash his feet and mouth, and the Arghya, and kine. And accepting those offerings from the Pandava Janamejaya and ordering the kine also not to be slain, Vyasa became much gratified. And the king, after those adorations bowed to his great-grandfather, and sitting in joy asked him about his welfare. And the illustrious Rishi also, casting his eyes upon him and asking him about his welfare, worshipped the Sadayas, having been before worshipped by them all. And after all this. Janamejaya with all his Sadasyas, questioned that first of Brahmanas, with joined palms as follows: