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

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.'
​"And Astika asked, 'For what wert thou, O mother, bestowed on my father by my uncle? Tell me all truly so that hearing I may do what is proper.'
"Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of the snakes, herself unmoved by the general distress, and ever desirous ef the welfare of her relatives, said unto him. 'O son, it is said that the mother of all the snakes is Kadru. Know thou for what she cursed in anger her sons! Addressing the snakes she said,—As ye have refused to falsify (the color of) Uchchaisrava, the prince of horses, for bringing about Vinata's bondage according to the wager, therefore, shall he whose charioteer is Vayu burn ye all in Janamejaya's sacrifice. And perishing in that sacrifice, ye shall go to the region of unredeemed spirits.—The Grand-father himself of all the worlds spake unto her while uttering this curse—Be it so, and thus approved her speech. And Vasuki having heard that curse and then the words of the Grand-father, sought the protection of the gods. O child, on the occasion when the amrita was being churned for. And the gods, their object fulfilled, they having obtained the excellent amrita, with Vasuki ahead, approached the Grand-father. And all the gods with king Vasuki, sought to incline him who was born of the lotus into grace so that the curse might be made abortive.
"'And the gods said,—O Lord, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, is sorry on account of his relatives. How may his mother's curse prove abortive?
"'And Brahma thereupon replied, saying,—Jaratkaru shall take unto himself a wife of the name of Jaratkaru: the Brahmana born in her shall relieve the snakes.
"And Vasuki, the best of snakes, hearing these words, bestowed me, O thou of god-like looks, on thy high-souled father a little before the commencement of the sacrifice. And from that marriage art thou born of me. That time hath come. It behoveth thee to protect us from this danger. It behoveth thee to protect my brother and myself from the fire, so that the object—our relief—for which I was bestowed on thy wise father may not be unfulfilled. What dost thou think, O son?'" ​Sauti continued, "Thus addressed, Astika said unto his mother, 'Yea, I shall.' And he then spake unto the afflicted Vasuki, as if infusing life into him, saying, 'O Vasuki, thou best of snakes, thou great being, truly do I say, I shall relieve thee from that curse. Be easy, O snake! There is no fear any longer. I shall strive earnestly so that good may come. Nobody hath ever said that my speech even in jest hath been false. As to serious occasions I need not say anything. O uncle, going thither to-day, I shall gratify, with words mixed with blessings, the monarch Janamejaya installed in the sacrifice, so that, O excellent one, the sacrifice may stop. O thou high-minded one, thou king of the snakes, believe all that I say. Believe me, my resolve can never be unfulfilled.'
"And Vasuki then said, 'O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks! I cannot discern the points of the Earth, afflicted as I am with a mother's curse!'
"And Astika said, 'Thou best of snakes, it behoveth thee not to grieve any longer. I shall dispell this fear of thine from the blazing fire. This terrible punishment, capable of burning like the fire at the end of the yuga, shall I extinguish. Nurse not thy fear any longer!'"
Sauti continued, "Then that best of Brahmanas, Astika, dispelling the terrible fever of Vasuki's heart, and taking it, as it were, on himself, wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to Janamejaya's sacrifice blessed with every merit. And Astika having gone thither, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound covered with numerous Sadasyas of splendour like unto that of the Sun or of Agni. But that best of Brahmanas was denied admittance by the door-keepers. And the mighty ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial compound. And the best of Brahmanas,—the foremost of all virtuous men, having entered the excellent sacrificial compound began to adore the king of infinite achievements, the Ritwigas, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred fire."
And so ends the fifty-fourth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.