|
Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 12: Chapter 6: Verses 12-26
Having gratified Kasyapa, who knew how to counteract the effect of poison, with gifts of money and sent him back, the serpent, who was capable of assuming any form at will, and came disguised as a Brahmana (approached and) bit the king. By the action of fire produced by the poison of the snake the body of the royal sage, who had become one with Brahma, was instantly reduced to ashes, while all men looked on. There arose a terrible outcry on earth as well as in the heavens and in all the quarters; while gods and demons as well as men and all others were really struck with wonder. Celestial kettle-drums sounded (of their own accord), Gandharvas and Apsaras (celestial musicians and dancing girls) sang praises; while gods sent down showers of flowers, raising shouts ofapplause.
Enraged to hear of his father having been consumed by Taksaka, Janamejaya with the help of Brahmana priests started in the course of a sacrifice offering snakes in the prescribed manner into the sacrificial fire. Agitated with fear to see great serpents burning in blazing fire at the snake-sacrifice, Taksaka sought (the presence of) indra for protection. Not seeing Taksaka there, King Janamejaya (son of Pariksit) inquired of the Brahmanas as to why Taksaka, the vilest of all snakes, was not being burnt. (They replied,) "Indra, 0 ruler of kings, protects him as the latter has sought him for protection. The snake has been held back by Indra, hence he does not fall into the fire." Hearing this, Janamejaya (son of Pariksit), highly intelligent as he was, said to the priests, "Why should Taksaka not be invoked by you, 0 Brahmanas, alongwith Indra to fall into the sacrificial fire ?" Hearing this the Brahmanas invoked (the. presence of) Taksaka alongwith Indra in the sacrifice thus : "Taksaka ! soon fall down here with Indra, who has the (forty-nine) Maruts (wind-gods) for his followers." Indra alongwith his aerial car, Taksaka and all, was made to move from his abode by the maledictions uttered by the Brahmanas and felt greatly agitated in mind. Brhaspati, the son of Angira, expostulated (thus) with the said king (Janamejaya) when he saw Indra falling from the heavens alongwith Taksaka and the celestial car:- "This king of serpents cannot be killed by you, 0 ruler of men; for he has drunk of nectar and is therefore unquestionably immortal and immune from old age. Life and death of a living being as well as its existence in the other world is determined by its own doing, 0 king ! None else can bring happiness or misery to another than the latter's own doing. When a living being meets (its) death through the medium of a snake, thief, fire or lightning, or through hunger, thirst, disease and the like, 0 protector of men, it (only) reaps thereby the fruit of such Karma as has begun to bear fruit.
|
|
