# The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LVIII

Section LVIII. ( Astika Parva continued. )
Sauti said, "Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connection with Astika! When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by granting the boon, the snake (Takshaka,) thrown off Indra's hands, remained in mid-air without actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious, for Takshaka afflicted with fear did not at once fall into the fire although libations were poured in proper form into the blazing sacrificial Agni in his name."
Saunaka said, "Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas were not propitious, as Takshaka did not fall into the fire?"
Sauti replied, "Unto the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, after he had been cast off Indra's hands, Astika had said thrice these words—'stay'—'stay.' And he succeeded in staying in the skies, with afflicted heart, like a person between the vault of the welkin and the Earth.
​"The king then, repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, "Let it be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, and let, O Suta, thy words also be true.' And when the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits rang through the air expressive of joy. And that sacrifice of the son of Parikshita—that king of the Pandava race—came to an end. And king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was pleased himself. And unto the Ritwijas with the Sadasyas, and unto all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds, and thousands. And unto the Suta Lohitaksha—conversant with the rules of buildings and foundations—who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would prove the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, the king gave much wealth. And the king, of immeasurable kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desert, and became very much pleased. And then he concluded his sacrifice according to the rites of the ordinance. And after treating him with every respect, the king in joy sent home the wise Astika exceedingly gratified for he had attained his object. And the king said unto him, 'Thou must come again to become a Sadasya in my great horse-sacrifice? And Astika said, yea, and then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. And returning in joy to his uncle and mother and touching their feet he recounted to them everything as it had happened."
Sauti continued, "Hearing all he said, the snakes that had come thither became very much delighted, and their fears were dispelled. And they were mightily pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, And they repeatedly asked him, 'O thou learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much gratified, having been all saved by thee! What shall we accomplish for thee, O child!'
"And Astika said, 'Those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the morning or the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred account of this my act, let them have no fear from ye!' And the snakes in joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the matter of thy boon, let it be exactly as thou sayest! ​That which thou askest shall we all cheerfully do, O nephew! And those also that recall to their minds Asita, Artiman, and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say,—I recall to my mind the famous Astika born of Jaratkaru by Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the snakes-sacrifice, therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it behoveth ye not to bite me, but go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away thou snake of virulent poison, and remember the words of Astika after the snake-sacrifice of Janamejay.—That snake who does not cease from biting after hearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundred-fold like the fruit of the shingsha tree.'"
Sauti continued, "That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. And the high-souled one then set his heart upon going away.
"And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.
"Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of snakes."
Sauti continued, "O Brahmana, thou foremost of the Bhrigu race, as thy ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated it to his inquiring son Ruru, and as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the beginning, of the learned Astika! And, O Brahmana, thou oppressor of all enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue, and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied!"
And thus ends the fifty-eighth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.