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

Section XLIII. ( Astika Parva continued. )
Sauti said, "And Takshaka, after this, answered, 'If, indeed, thou art able to cure any creature bit by me, thou, O Kasyapa, revive thou this tree bit by me. O thou best of Brahmanas, I burn this banian in thy sight. Try thy best and show me that skill in mantras of which thou hast said.'
"And Kasyapa said, 'If thou art so minded, bite thou then, O king of snakes, this tree. O snake, I shall revive it bit by thee.'"
Sauti continued, "That king of snakes, thus addressed by the illustrious Kasyapa, bit then that banian tree. And that tree, bit by the illustrious snake, and penetrated by the poison of the serpent, blazed up all around. And having burnt the banian so, the snake then spake again unto Kasyapa, saying, 'O first of Brahmanas, try thy best and revive this lord of the forest.'"
Sauti continued, "The tree was reduced to ashes by the poison of the king of snakes. And taking up those ashes, ​Kasyapa spake these words:—"O king of snakes, behold the power of my knowledge as applied to this lord of the forest! O snake, in thy very sight I shall revive it' And then that best of Brahmanas, the illustrious and learned Kasyapa revived, by his learning, that tree which had been reduced to a heap of ashes. And first he created the sprout, then he furnished it with two leaves, and then he made the stem, and then the branches, and then the full-grown tree with leaves and all. And Takshaka seeing the tree revived by the illustrious Kasyapa said unto him, 'It is not wonderful in thee that thou wouldst destroy my poison or that of any one else like myself. O thou whose wealth is asceticism, desiring what wealth thither goest thou? The reward that thou expectest to have from that best of monarchs, even I will give thee, however difficult it may be to obtain it. Decked with fame as thou art, thy success may be doubtful on that king affected by a Brahmana's curse and whose period itself of life hath been shortened. And in that case, this blazing fame of thine that hath overspread the three worlds will disappear like the sun when deprived of his splendour (on the occasion of eclipses.)'
"And Kasyapa said, 'I go there for wealth; give it unto me, O snake, so that taking thy gold, I may return.' And Takshaka answered, 'O best of Dwijas, even I will give thee wealth more than what thou expectest from that king. Therefore, cease to go."
Sauti continued, "And that best of Brahmanas, Kasyapa, of great prowess and intelligence, hearing these words of Takshaka sat in yoga meditation over the king. And the foremost of Munis, Kasyapa, of great prowess and gifted with spiritual knowledge, ascertaining that the period of life of that king of the Pandava race had really come to its end, returned, receiving from Takshaka as much wealth as he desired.
"And upon the illustrious Kasyapa retracing his steps, Takshaka at the proper time speedily entered the city of Hastinapore. And on his way he heard that the lord of the earth was living very carefully, protected by means of poison-neutralising mantras and medicines."
Sauti continued, "And he there-upon reflected, saying, ​'The monarch must be deceived by my power of illusion. But what must be the means?' And then Takshaka sent to the king (his attendant) snakes in the guise of ascetics taking with them fruits, the kusa grass, and water (as presents). And Takshaka, addressing them, said, 'Go ye all to the king alleging urgent business, without sign of impatience, as if to make the monarch only accept the fruits, flowers and water (that ye shall carry as presents to him).'"
Sauti continued, "And those snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, acted accordingly. And they took to the king kusa grass, water, and fruits. And the foremost of kings, of great prowess, accepted those offerings. And after their business was finished, he said unto them, 'Retire'. And when those shakes disguised as ascetics had gone away, the king of men then addressed his ministers and friends, saying, 'Eat ye, with me, all these fruits of excellent taste brought by the ascetics,' And then moved by fate and the words of the Rishi, the king, with his ministers, entertained the desire of eating those fruits. And the particular fruit, within which Takshaka was, was eaten by the king himself. And when he was eating the fruit, there appeared, O Saunaka, in it an ugly insect, of shape scarcely discernible, of eyes black and color as copper. And the foremost of kings, taking that insect, addressed his councillors, saying, 'The sun is setting; to-day I have no more fear from poison. Therefore, let this insect becoming as Takshaka, bite me, so that my sinful act be expiated and the words of the ascetic rendered true.' And those councillors also, impelled by fate, approved of that speech. And then the monarch smiled, losing his senses, his hour having come. And he quickly placed that insect on his neck. And as the king was smiling, Takshaka, who had (in the form of that insect) come out of the fruit that had been offered to the king, coiled with his own body, round the neck of the monarch. And quickly coiling round the king's neck and uttering a tremendous roar, Takshaka, the lord of snakes, then bit the protector of the earth."
And so ends the forty-third Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.