so that our object may be accomplished. By his death the root of all evil will be severed. This is the final deliberation of us all, O thou who hearest by thy eyes! Then, do that speedily which thou deemest proper.' Having said this, they looked intently at Vasuki, the best of snakes. And Vasuki also, after reflecting answered the snakes, saying. 'Ye snakes, this final determination of ye all doth not seem worthy of adoption. The advice of ye all is not to my liking. What shall I appoint 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 to adopt of all your suggestions for the welfare of my race as also of mine. That must be done by me which would be to your weal. It is this that makes me so anxious, for the credit and the discredit are mine alone.
And so ends the thirty-seventh Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.
Section XXXVIII.
(Astika Parva continued.)
Sauti said, "Hearing the respective speeches of all the snakes, and hearing also the words of Vasuki, Elapatra began to address them, saying, 'That sacrifice is not such that it may not take place. Nor is king Janamejaya of the Pandava race such (as can be hindered), from whom this our great fear proceedeth. The person, O king, who is afflicted by fate hath recourse to fate alone; nothing else can be his refuge. Ye best of snakes, this fear of ours hath fate for its root. Fate alone must be our refuge in this. Listen ye to what I say. When that curse was uttered, ye best of snakes, in fear I had crouched on the lap of our mother. Ye best of snakes, and O lord (Vasuki) of great splendour, from that place I heard the words the sorrowing gods spake thereupon unto the Grand-father. The gods said:—O Grand-father, thou god of gods, who else than the cruel Kadru could thus, after getting such dear children, curse them so, even in they presence? And O Grand-father, by thee also hath
