Section LIII.
(Astika Parva continued.)
Saunaka asked, "What great Rishis became the Ritwijas in the snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava line? Who also became the Sadasyas in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to the snakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth thee, O child, to describe all these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who were acquainted with the ritual of the snake-sacrifice!"
Sauti answered, "I shall recite the names of those wise ones who became that monarch's Ritwijas and Sadasyas. The Brahmana, Chanda-vargava, became the Hota in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born in the race of Chyavana and was a Brahmana, foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas. The learned old Brahmana, Kautsa, became the Udgata (the chaunter of the Vedic hymns.) Jaimini became the Brahma, and Saranga-rava and Pingala became the Adhwaryus. Vyasa with his son and disciples, Uddalaka, Pramataka, Shetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundo-jathara, the Brahmana Kalghata, Vatsya, old Sratasrava ever engaged in japa and the study of the Vedas, Kohala, Deva-sarma, Maud-galya, Sama-saurava, these, and many other Brahmanas who had crossed the Vedas, became the Sadasyas in that sacrifice of the son of Parikshita.
"When the Ritwijas in that Snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butter into the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear unto every creature, began to fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus falling into the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled with an insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. And cries also were incessant of the snakes fallen into the fire and of those in the air about to fall into it.
"Meanwhile, Takshaka, the prince of snakes, as soon as he heard that king Janamejaya was installed in the sacrifice, went to the palace of Purandara. And that best of snakes having represented all that had taken place, sought in terror
