O best of Brahmanas, a companion of his, a Rishi's son named Krisha in a playful mood laughingly spake unto him. And Sringi, wrathful and like unto poison itself, hearing those words in reference to his father, flamed up in a rage.
"And Krisha said, 'Be not proud, O Sringi, for ascetic as thou art and possessed of energy, thy father bears on his shoulder a dead snake. Henceforth speak not a word to sons of Rishis like ourselves who have knowledge of the truth, are deep in ascetic penances, and have attained success. Where is that manliness of thine, those high words of thine begotten of pride, when thou must have to behold thy father bearing a dead snake? O thou best of all the Munis, thy father too had done nothing to deserve this treatment, and it is for this that I am particularly sorry as if the punishment were mine.'"
And so ends the fortieth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.
Section XLI.
( Astika Parva continued. )
Sauti said, "Thus addressed, and hearing that his sire was bearing a dead snake, the powerful Sringi burned with wrath. And looking at Krisha, and speaking softly, he asked him, 'Pray, why doth my father bear to-day a dead snake?' And Krisha replied, 'Even as the king Parikshita was roving for purposes of hunting, O dear one, he placed the dead snake the shoulder of thy sire?'
"And Sringi asked, 'What wrong was done to that wicked monarch by my father? O Krisha tell me this, and witness thou the force of my asceticism.'
"And Krisha answered, 'King Parikshita, the son of Abhimanyu, while hunting, wounded a fleet stag with an arrow and chased it alone. And the king lost sight the animal in that extensive wilderness. And on seeing thy sire, he immediately accosted him. He was then observing the vow of silence. Oppressed by hunger, thirst, and labour, the prince again and again asked thy father sitting motionless, about the
