The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION LVII
(Astika Parva continued)
"Saunaka said, 'O son of a Suta, I desire to hear the names of all those snakes
that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice!'
"Sauti replied, 'Many thousands and tens of thousands and billions of snakes
fell into the fire. O most excellent Brahmana, so great is the number that I am
unable to count them all. So far, however, as I remember, hear the names I mention
of the principal snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal
ones of Vasuki's race alone, of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and
huge body and deadly poison. Helpless and miserable and afflicted with their mother's
curse, they fell into the sacrificial fire like libations of butter.
"Kotisa, Manasa, Purna, Cala, Pala Halmaka, Pichchala, Kaunapa, Cakra, Kalavega,
Prakalana, Hiranyavahu, Carana, Kakshaka, Kaladantaka--these snakes born of Vasuki,
fell into the fire. And, O Brahmana, numerous other snakes well-born, and of terrible
form and great strength, were burnt in the blazing fire. I shall now mention those
born in the race of Takshaka. Hear thou their names. Puchchandaka, Mandalaka,
Pindasektri, Ravenaka; Uchochikha, Carava, Bhangas, Vilwatejas, Virohana; Sili,
Salakara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana, Mudgara and Sisuroman, Suroman and Mahahanu.
These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire. And Paravata, Parijata, Pandara,
Harina, Krisa, Vihanga, Sarabha, Meda, Pramoda, Sauhatapana--these born in the
race of Airavata fell into the fire. Now hear, O best of Brahmanas, the names
of the snakes I mention born in the race of Kauravya: Eraka, Kundala Veni, Veniskandha,
Kumaraka, Vahuka, Sringavera, Dhurtaka, Pratara and Astaka. There born in the
race of Kauravya fell into the fire. Now hear the names I mention, in order, of
those snakes endued with the speed of the wind and with virulent poison, born
in the race of Dhritarashtra: Sankukarna, Pitharaka, Kuthara, Sukhana, and Shechaka;
Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Sakuni, Dari, Amahatha, Kumathaka, Sushena, Vyaya,
Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pisanga, Udraparaka, Rishabha, Vegavat, Pindaraka; Raktanga,
Sarvasaranga, Samriddha, Patha and Vasaka; Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, Chitravegika,
Parasara, Tarunaka, Maniskandha and Aruni.
"O Brahmana, thus I have recited the names of the principal snakes known widely
for their achievements--I have not been able to name all, the number being countless.
The sons of these snakes, the sons of those sons, that were burnt having fallen
into the fire, I am unable to mention. They are so many! Some of three heads,
some of seven, others of ten, of poison like unto the fire at the end of the yuga
and terrible in form,--they were burnt by thousands!
"Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, of
the length of a yama, of a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of assuming at
will any form and of mastering at will any degree of strength, of poison like
unto blazing fire, afflicted by the curse of a mother, were burnt in that great
'sacrifice.'"
