Janamejaya's Sarp Yagya-2: Aasteek Saves Lives of Snakes

Shaunak Jee asked - "Who became Ritwik and who became Sadasya in that Sarp Yagya?" Soot Jee said - "Braahman Chandra Bhaargav (born in Chyavan's family) became the Hotaa; Kautsa became Udgaataa (the chanter of Vaidik hymns); Jaimini became Braahman; and Shaarngarv and Pingal became Adhwaryu. Vyaas with his son and disciples, Uddaalak, Pramatak, Shwetketu, Pingal, Asit, Deval, Naarad, Parvat, Atreya, Maudgalya etc became Sadasya. When snakes had started falling in fire in heaps, the fire started flowing in rivers, and a strong smell filled the atmosphere.

As Takshak heard about the Sarp Yagya of Janamejaya, he went to Indra and sought for his protection after acknowledging his fault. Indra assured him - "You have no fear of sacrifice here. Brahmaa Jee is satisfied with you so don't be afraid." Takshak started living there in joy and happiness, but Vaasuli seeing his family burning like this became very sorry. He called his sister and said to her - "I am feeling that I will have to go Yam Lok. The Time has come when Aasteek, the son of Jaratkaaru, will save us from this. Brahmaa Jee himself told this. So call your son who will put an end to this sacrifice and save our lives."

Soot Jee said - "Hearing this his sister called his son and said - "For whichever day I have got you, that day has come. Go and do whatever is to be done." Aasteek asked - "Why were you given to my father by my uncle? Tell me everything so that I can do appropriately." She said - "It is said that mother of all the snakes is Kadroo who cursed her sons in anger. She said to her sons - "You have disobeyed me to represent Uchchshraivaa to make Vinataa my slave, that is why the carrier of Agni, Vaayu will burn you all in Janamejaya's sacrifice and you will go to the region of unredeemed spirits." Brahmaa Jee also approved it by saying, "So be it". Then Vaasuki sought the refuge of Devtaa when Saagar Manthan was going on. After Devtaa had got Amrit, went to Brahmaa Jee and said to him - "Vaasuki is very sad about his brothers, what can be done for him?" Brahmaa Jee said - "The Rishi Jaratkaaru will take his wife as of his own name and the son  born to them will save them." So Vaasuki gave me to him before the sacrifice and you are born from that marriage. Now the Time has come to protect my brothers and myself from fire. What do you think, O my son?"

Hearing this Aasteek said - "Surely, I will." Then said to Vaasuki - "I promise you to save your life from this fire. I have never told lie, so believe me. I need not to say anything more than the words of blessings to the King, so that he may stop the Yagya." Vaasuki said - "O son, I cannot think of anything." Aasteek assured him not to fear anymore. Aasteek went to Janamejaya's Yagya to bestow him for every merit. When reached there he saw many best Braahman sitting there, but he was not allowed to enter there. He gratified the door keepers, entered the compound and started praising the King, Sadasya and other Braahman on their achievements.

How Takshak Was Saved?

He said - "Many great people have performed great sacrifices but your sacrifice is greatest of all. Vyaas himself is the chief priest in your sacrifice, and others who are administering it, let all those be blessed. I am very pleased with your abstinence. You seem like another Varun, Yam, or Indra. In power, you are like Yayaati, Maandhaataa; in splendor you are like Bheeshm; you are like Naabhaag, Khatwaang, or Dileep. Soot Jee said - "Aasteek thus adored them all Ritwik, Sadasya, King and the sacrificial fire. Janamejaya said."

Janamejaya said - "Although he is a boy, but he speaks like a wise man. I desire to bestow him a boon, please permit me to do so." Sadasya said - "Indeed he deserves the respect of kings, but not before Takshak comes here." Soot Jee said - "But the King was inclined to give him a boon, so he asked him again to ask for a boon. Hotaa intervened - "But Takshak has not come yet." Janamejaya replied - "Make efforts to bring him here. He is my utmost enemy." Ritwik said - "The Fire says that he is living in Indra's palace." A Soot named Lohitaaksh had also said this before. Asked by the King, he again said to him - "Knowing the Puraan, Indra has granted him a boon that "till you are living here with me in hiding, Agni will not burn you." So the King asked his Hotaa to call him again. 

And as he poured the Aahuti, Indra himself appeared there. Takshak was hiding in Indra's upper garment. The King said to his Braahman - "If Takshak is hiding in Indra's palace then cast him also in the fire along with Takshak." Soot Jee said - "So Braahman offered the Aahuti taking the name of Takshak. He appeared in the sky. Indra got scared seeing that sacrifice, so he cast off Takshak and ran away to his abode, and by virtue of Mantra, Takshak started coming nearer to the fire.

Ritwik said - "O King, Your sacrifice is done duly, now you can grant this boy a boon." Janamejaya said to the Braahman boy - "I wish to give you a boon so ask for it. I will give it to you even if it is not grantable." Ritwik said - "See O King, Takshak is coming to your sacrifice with a loud noise. It seems that Indra has abandoned him." As Takshak was about to fall in the fire, Aasteek aid - "If you wish to grant me a boon, let this your sacrifice come to an end and no more snake should be sacrificed in this Yagya." Janamejaya got very sorry to hear this, so he said - "You may ask me anything else - gold, silver, land, wealth, animals, but not this that my sacrifice should come to an end." Aasteek said - "I do not want anything else than that your sacrifice should come to the end so that my maternal relations are relieved." Janamejaya asked the boy to ask for any other thing but the boy refused to ask for any other thing. Braahman said - "Let the Braahman receive his boon." 

Shaunak Jee said - "I desire to hear the names of those snakes who fell in the fire." Soot Jee said - "Many thousands, tens of thousands and billions of thousands snakes were burnt in that fire. Some of their names are here.  [Names of many snakes are given here - Chap 57]

Soot Jee said - "Now listen to another wonderful incident of Aasteek. When Janamejaya was granting the boon to Aasteek, Takshak hung in the midair without actually falling. King got worried at this as he did not fall in fire even after the Aahuti was offered in his name." Shaunak Jee asked - "Was the Mantra not powerful enough to bring Takshak down in the fire?" Soot Jee said - "As Takshak was abandoned by Indra, Aasteek said "Stay, stay, stay" three times and he remained stuck in the sky.

The King, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasya, said - "Let the sacrifice end as Aasteek has said; let the snakes be safe; O Soot, let your words also be true." As the boon was granted, a wave of joy ran through the air and thus the Sarp Yagya came to an end. King Ritwik, Sadasya and all others were happy to see its end. Janamejaya distributed lots of money; and the king gave much wealth, clothes food etc to the Soot Lohitaaksh who predicted even before the construction of the platform that "this Yagya will not be completed because of a Braahman." Janamejaya was very happy with Aasteek, he requested him to come again as a Sadasya when he would perform his Ashwamedh Yagya (horse sacrifice). Aasteek said , Sure." and came back to his mother and told them everything that happened there.

All snakes were also very happy with Aasteek, they also asked him to ask for any boon from them. Aasteek said - "Let all those Braahman and others who will read this account morning or evening, cheerfully and attentively, should have no fear from you." The snakes said "So be it. And who will take the names of Asit, Aartimant, and Suneed in the day or in the night will have no fear from snakes. Those people will also have no fear from snakes, who will say, "I call to my mind Aasteek, the son Jaratkaaru who saved the snakes from sacrifice, therefore it is not appropriate for you to bite me." When the Time came Aasteek went to heaven leaving sons and grandsons behind. Now I will tell you the story of Dundubh.