unto those Brahmanas versed in mantras,-'I shall make preparations for-that sacrifice. Tell me the things that are necessary 1' And the king's Ritwikas, O excellent Brahmana, versed in the Vedas and acquainted with the rites of that sacrifice measured, according to the scriptures, the land for the sacrificial platform. And the platform was decked with much valuable articles and with Brahmanas. And it was full of precious things and paddy. And the Ritwikas sat upon it at ease. And after the sacrificial platform had been thus constructed according to rule and as desired, they installed the king at the snake-sacrifice for the attainment of its object. And before the commencement of the snake-sacrifice that was to come, there occurred this very important incident foreboding obstruction to the sacrifice. For when the sacrificial platform was being constructed, a professional builder of great intelligence and well-versed in the knowledge of laying foundations, a Suta by caste, well acquainted with the Puranas, said, 'The soil upon which and the time at which the measurement for the sacrificial platform has been made, indicate that this sacrifice will not be completed, a Brabmana becoming the reason thereot.' Hearing this, the king, before his installation, gave orders to bis gate-keepers not to admit anybody without his know. ledge.'"
Thus ends the fifty-first section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
SECTION LII
(Astika Parva continued)
Sauti said, "The snake-sacrifice then commenced according to due form. And the sacrificial priests, competent in their respective duties according to the ordinance, clad in black garments and their eyes red from contact with smoke, poured clarified butter into the blazing fire, uttering proper mantras. And causing the hearts of all the snakes to tremble with fear, they poured clarified butter into the mouth of Agni uttering the names of the snakes. And the snakes thereupon began to fall into the blazing fire, benumed and piteously calling upon one another. And swollen and breathing hard, and twining each other with their heads and tails, they came in large numbers and fell into the fire. The white, the black, the blue, the old and the young--all fell alike into the fire, uttering various cries. Those measuring a cosa, and those measuring a yojana, and those of the measure of a gokarna, fell continu. ously with great violence into that first of all fires. And hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of snakes, deprived of all control over
