Changes

Once King Pariksit, the son of Abhimanyu was travelling through the forest for hunting animals. He picked up a dead snake with the tip of his bow and put it on the shoulder of a sage named "Samika". Samika's son, Sringi came to know of this. In his anger, Sringi pronounced a curse that King Pariksit should die within seven days by the bite of Taksaka. When Pariksit heard of this, he had a palace built on a single pillar in the middle of the ocean, quite inaccessible to Taksaka and took shelter there. The most famous physicians and wizards were engaged to ward off the approach of Taksaka to that place. Six days passed like this. On the seventh day, determined to make a final attempt, Taksaka disguised himself as an old Brahmana and set out to the King's place of shelter. On his way he met Dhanvantari who was proceeding to Parlksit to protect him. They became friends and as a result of it, Dhanvantari returned after receiving a large number of rare precious stones given to him by Taksaka. Assuming the form of a small worm, Taksaka secretly entered into a fruit which was to be presented to the King. As soon as the King took that fruit in his hand, Taksaka took his own shape and size and bit the King who died immediately.

Once King Pariksit, the son of Abhimanyu was travelling through the forest for hunting animals. He picked up a dead snake with the tip of his bow and put it on the shoulder of a sage named "Samika". Samika's son, Sringi came to know of this. In his anger, Sringi pronounced a curse that King Pariksit should die within seven days by the bite of Taksaka. When Pariksit heard of this, he had a palace built on a single pillar in the middle of the ocean, quite inaccessible to Taksaka and took shelter there. The most famous physicians and wizards were engaged to ward off the approach of Taksaka to that place. Six days passed like this. On the seventh day, determined to make a final attempt, Taksaka disguised himself as an old Brahmana and set out to the King's place of shelter. On his way he met Dhanvantari who was proceeding to Parlksit to protect him. They became friends and as a result of it, Dhanvantari returned after receiving a large number of rare precious stones given to him by Taksaka. Assuming the form of a small worm, Taksaka secretly entered into a fruit which was to be presented to the King. As soon as the King took that fruit in his hand, Taksaka took his own shape and size and bit the King who died immediately.

Janamejaya was the son of this King Pariksit. Janamejaya performed all the obsequies of his father. After that, in a spirit of revenge, with the object of annihilating the whole race of serpents, he summoned Brahmanas to conduct a sarpa satra (snake sacrifice). In the sacrificial fire specially prepared at that yaga, many serpents were being burnt up. It seemed that the whole race of serpents would shortly be wiped out. But Taksaka alone was not to be seen. The officiating priests were beginning to get angry. Impatient cries of Where is Taksaka rent the air. The frightened Taksaka fled for life to the palace of his friend Indra and there lay down, curling round Indra's cot. When the priests understood this they decided to use their charms and mantras which would bring Indra, his bed, cot and all, along with Taksaka to the sacrificial fire. At this stage, all the gods rushed to Manasadevi and fell at her feet and begged her to save the situation. The kindhearted Devi called her son Astika and advised him to persuade Janamejaya to stop the Sarpasatra. Astika went to Janamejaya and requested him to give him the lives of Taksaka and Indra as a gift. Janamejaya, after consulting the munis and priests and at their advice, agreed to do so. In this way, the Sarpasatra was stopped and the remaining serpents escaped with their lives. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha, M.B., Adi Parva). (Page 94-95, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Janamejaya was the son of this King Pariksit. Janamejaya performed all the obsequies of his father. After that, in a spirit of revenge, with the object of annihilating the whole race of serpents, he summoned Brahmanas to conduct a sarpa satra (snake yajna). In the yajnika agni specially prepared at that yaga, many serpents were being burnt up. It seemed that the whole race of serpents would shortly be wiped out. But Taksaka alone was not to be seen. The officiating priests were beginning to get angry. Impatient cries of Where is Taksaka rent the air. The frightened Taksaka fled for life to the palace of his friend Indra and there lay down, curling round Indra's cot. When the priests understood this they decided to use their charms and mantras which would bring Indra, his bed, cot and all, along with Taksaka to the yajnika agni. At this stage, all the gods rushed to Manasadevi and fell at her feet and begged her to save the situation. The kindhearted Devi called her son Astika and advised him to persuade Janamejaya to stop the Sarpasatra. Astika went to Janamejaya and requested him to give him the lives of Taksaka and Indra as a gift. Janamejaya, after consulting the munis and priests and at their advice, agreed to do so. In this way, the Sarpasatra was stopped and the remaining serpents escaped with their lives. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha, M.B., Adi Parva). (Page 94-95, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Astika learnt Sariga Vedas from the asramaof Cyavana. (Chapter 48, Adi Parva).

Astika learnt Sariga Vedas from the asramaof Cyavana. (Chapter 48, Adi Parva).

Ruru desired to get some information about serpent yajna from Sahasrapat, who answered the former that he would hear the story of Astika from brahmins and then disappeared. (Adi Parva, Chapter 12, Verse 3). (Page 666, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Ruru desired to get some information about serpent yajna from Sahasrapat, who answered the former that he would hear the story of Astika from brahmins and then disappeared. (Adi Parva, Chapter 12, Verse 3). (Page 666, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Once the son of a sage of great divine splendour named Uttanka was studying under a Guru named Veda. When his education was complete, the Guru asked him to bring as daksina (fees) the earrings worn by the Ksatriya wife of King Pausya. Indra made Taksaka steal the ornament and created many obstacles on the way. That incident made them mutual friends and gradually Taksaka became an intimate friend of Indra. From that day onwards Uttanka waited for an opportunity to take vengeance on Taksaka. It was at that time that Janamejaya, son of Parlksit, became the king. Janamejaya was only eleven years old when he became king and he was not then aware of the details of the death of his father. Uttanka went to him and told him how Taksaka killed his father. Janamejaya became furious and asked him how to wreak vengeance on him. Uttanka suggested the performance of a Sarpasatra to which all the serpents should be attracted by mantras and burnt to death there. The young king agreed and Uttanka with other rsis commenced the Sarpasatra. One by one all the serpents came and fell into the sacrificial fire but Taksaka was not to be found. Where is Taksaka? This question was heard from many lips. Taksaka was specially invoked by Uttanka. Taksaka could not bear the power of Uttanka and he ran and prostrated before Indra. Indra not only did give refuge but gave him half of his seat in the throne and Taksaka sat on it fully confident of security. Uttanka was enraged, when after repeated calls by mantra, Taksaka did not appear and so he sat in meditation for some time to know the cause. He then saw Taksaka sitting on the throne of Indra and the sight threw him into fury and he invoked Taksaka, Indra and the throne and all. Lo ! in an instant Indra, Taksaka, the throne and all started moving towards the sacrificial fire ! Within seconds all would have been burnt to death but for the timely intervention of a brahmin boy named Astika, son of the sage Jaratkaru. Taksaka by instructions from Indra was living in the forest of Khandava and when that was burnt by Agni, it was Indra who saved Taksaka from the fire. (Page 783, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

Once the son of a sage of great divine splendour named Uttanka was studying under a Guru named Veda. When his education was complete, the Guru asked him to bring as daksina (fees) the earrings worn by the Ksatriya wife of King Pausya. Indra made Taksaka steal the ornament and created many obstacles on the way. That incident made them mutual friends and gradually Taksaka became an intimate friend of Indra. From that day onwards Uttanka waited for an opportunity to take vengeance on Taksaka. It was at that time that Janamejaya, son of Parlksit, became the king. Janamejaya was only eleven years old when he became king and he was not then aware of the details of the death of his father. Uttanka went to him and told him how Taksaka killed his father. Janamejaya became furious and asked him how to wreak vengeance on him. Uttanka suggested the performance of a Sarpasatra to which all the serpents should be attracted by mantras and burnt to death there. The young king agreed and Uttanka with other rsis commenced the Sarpasatra. One by one all the serpents came and fell into the yajnika agni but Taksaka was not to be found. Where is Taksaka? This question was heard from many lips. Taksaka was specially invoked by Uttanka. Taksaka could not bear the power of Uttanka and he ran and prostrated before Indra. Indra not only did give refuge but gave him half of his seat in the throne and Taksaka sat on it fully confident of security. Uttanka was enraged, when after repeated calls by mantra, Taksaka did not appear and so he sat in meditation for some time to know the cause. He then saw Taksaka sitting on the throne of Indra and the sight threw him into fury and he invoked Taksaka, Indra and the throne and all. Lo ! in an instant Indra, Taksaka, the throne and all started moving towards the yajnika agni ! Within seconds all would have been burnt to death but for the timely intervention of a brahmin boy named Astika, son of the sage Jaratkaru. Taksaka by instructions from Indra was living in the forest of Khandava and when that was burnt by Agni, it was Indra who saved Taksaka from the fire. (Page 783, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

When Vasuki saw the serpents, born of his family, falling into the sacrificial fire of Janamejaya and dying in large numbers, he sent his nephew Astika to find out a way to rescue the perishing nagas. (M.B. Adi Parva, Chapter 53, Stanza 20). (Page 838-839, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

When Vasuki saw the serpents, born of his family, falling into the yajnika agni of Janamejaya and dying in large numbers, he sent his nephew Astika to find out a way to rescue the perishing nagas. (M.B. Adi Parva, Chapter 53, Stanza 20). (Page 838-839, Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Maṇi)

[[Category:Rishis]]

[[Category:Rishis]]

[[Category:Mahabharata]]

[[Category:Mahabharata]]