the protection of Indra after having acknowledged his fault. And Indra, gratified, then told him, 'Thou prince of snakes, Takshaka, here thou hast no fear from that Snake-sacrifice. The Grand-father was pacified by me for thy sake. Therefore, thou hast no fear. Let this fever of thy heart be dispelled.'"
Sauti continued, "Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began to dwell in Sakra's abode in joy and happiness. But Vasuki seeing that the snakes were incessantly falling into the fire, and that his family was reduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of the snakes was pierced with great grief, and his heart began to swim. And summoning his sister he spake unto her, saying, 'O amiable one, my limbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I am about to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, my sight is failing, and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall to-day into that blazing fire. This sacrifice of the son of Parikshita is for the extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to the abode of the king of the dead. That time is arrived, O my sister, on account of which thou wert bestowed by me on Jaratkaru. O protect us with our relatives! Thou best of the women of the snake race, Astika shall put an end to the sacrifice that is going on. The Grand-father himself told me this of old. Therefore, O child, solicit thy dear son who is fully conversant with the Vedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself with those dependent on me!'"
And so ends the fifty-third Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.
Section LIV.
(Astika Parva continued.)
Sauti said, "Then the snake-dame Jaratkaru, calling her own son, told him these words according to the directions of Vasuki the king of the snakes. 'O son, the time is come for the accomplishment of that object for which I was bestowed on thy father by my brother. Therefore do thou what should be done.'
