Mahabharata - King Janamejaya's Sacrifice (sarpayajna)

King Janamejaya and Serpent Sacrifice

After assuming office Janamejaya, unaware of the story of his father's death, as he was a mere child at that time, passed his time ruling the kingdom wisely and also by indulging in various pleasures befitting a king. He was married to the daughter of Kashiraja. He sported, hunted and spent leisure time with his wife, but also looked very ably upon the affairs of the kingdom. After sometime, Utanka, the great Brahmin who was once deceived by Takshaka and who had taken a vow of revenge against Takshaka, reached Hastinapur with a view to meet Janamejaya. The king had just then returned victorious from an expedition in Takshila. He asked the Brahmin his well being and about his needs. Utanka reprimanded him saying that it did not befit him as a king to indulge in luxuries and pleasure without first avenging the death of his father who died an ignominious death in the hand of Takshaka. Janamejaya then asked his minsiters to reveal to him the details of his father's death. The ministers recounted the detail as to how Parikshit had insulted the sage Samik, how the son of Samik, Sringin, out of wrath cursed the king, how Takshaka met Kasyap on the way and bribed him to go away while he planned meticulously the assasination and how finally he overtook the king.

On hearing the account of his heroic father's death, Janamejaya was mad with grief and anger. He then vowed to avenge the death of his father by burning Takshaka to ashes and decided to perform the great serpent sacrifice as directed by Utanka. He called all his Brahmins and Ritwiks (who perform Yajnas or sacrifices) to prepare for the great sacrifice as ordained in the Vedas. The sacrificial site was prepared with great care. However, one of the builders who was engaged in constructing the site, foretold that the soil of the sacrificial altar and the time was such that the sacrifice would not be completed and there would be obstacles from a Brahmin. The king therefore ordered the gate keepers not to allow anybody to enter without his knowledge. The sacrifice now began. As the priests chanted the Vedic hymns and poured oblations in the fire taking the names of the Nagas, they, trembling with fear, began to fall on the sacrifical site and get killed in droves. All the terrible snakes got killed by that blazing sacrificial fire because of their mother Kadru's curse and because the Gods had so ordained. Greatest of the Brahmins had been called to perform that sacrifice. Vyasa himself was present along with his disciples and son Suka. Sages like Uddalaka, his son Svetaketu, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvat were all present as Saudasyas. Jaimini, the disciple of Vyasa was the chief priest. Every Vedic sacrifice needed a Hotri, one would perform the sacrifice by uttering the Mantras, Udgatri, one who would chant the hymns, Adhvaryus, & Sadasyas. Ritwikas were supposed to pour the oblations in the form of clarified butter on the fire.

Meanwhile Takshaka, who was a good friend of Indra, went to the palace of the king of the Gods and sought his protection. Indra gave him his complete protection. Other snakes continued dying and Vasuki, on seeing his clan getting reduced to such an extent became exceedingly sorry and approached his sister Jaratkaru for sending her son Astika to protect the snakes, the mission for which he was conceived. Jaratakaru then called Astika and told him all about his father Jaratkaru, the divine purpose for which she was given in marriage to him and the birth of Astika. On hearing the terrible fate that awaited the Nagas, Astika told his mother and uncle that he would do his utmost to protect the remaining Nagas. Astika, having comforted them, then proceeded quickly to the site of the sacrifice. Reaching there he found that the gate keepers would not admit him being ordered by the king and having gratified them duly, gained admission. On entering the sacrifice site, he began to praise loudly the sacrifice, the performers, and the king himself. He spoke so eloquently on this subject that everybody present was very pleased, esp. by hearing such words of wisdom coming from such a small boy. The king in particular was very pleased and then and there wanted to give him a boon. However the Sadasyas asked him to desist from any such endeavour before Takshaka was captured. The king however said to the boy, "Ask for a boon." At this, the Ritwiks were very displeased saying that the king should have waited till Takshaka was brought into the sacrificial fire. The king also expressed his displeasure at the delay in getting Takshaka. Then the Brahmins present told him that according to the Puranas, this delay is on account of Indra giving protection to Takshaka. Janamejaya, being impatient, said that then Indra should be burnt along with Takshaka. Takshaka hid himself in the upper garments of Indra and as the libations were poured into the fire, Indra, anxious to save himself from being burnt, cast that garment. Takshaka was now brought near the sacrificial fire and was almost killed. At this moment Ritwiks, thinking that Takshaka was now completely under their control, asked the king to grant the boon to Astika. When the king did so, Astika told him that as boon he wanted the sacrifice to stop immediately and that no more snakes should be burnt. The king was alarmed and asked the boy to ask for some other boon but the boy would not relent. When king Janamejaya was about to grant the boon to the boy, Takshaka actually hang in the mid air and did not fall in the fire. This was because Astika had said three times, "Tistha" or "stop".

The king finally agreed to grant Astika his boon and stopped the sacrifice. He was happy that the sacrifice yielded the intended result. Although Takshaka was not killed he was half dead with fear and the result was same. Many cruel Nagas had been killed. The king completed the sacrifice according to the scriptural injunctions, gave away a lot of wealth to the learned Brahmins as gifts. He also eulogized the Suta builder who had predicted that one Brahmin would create obstacles for the yajna and gifted him a lot of wealth. He then showed much respect to Astika and invited him for the Aswamedha (Horse) Sacrifice which he intended to perform. Astika agreed cheerfully and being happy with his success in carrying out the mission entrusted to him, he returned to his maternal uncle Vasuki's place and met all the Nagas who were anxiously awaiting his mission's accomplishment. Vasuki and all the remaining Nagas were very happy and requested Astika to ask for a boon for the tremendous service that he had rendered. Astika did not ask anything for himself but asked that whosoever would be taking his name, Astika, the son of Jaratkaru, thinking of the deed accomplished by him, should have no fear from any snake, which Vasuki heartily granted.

Thus ended the great serpent sacrifice of Janamejaya. During the sacrifice, in order to spend time, the Rishis assembled had heard from Vaishampayan, a disciple of Vyasa, the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas, the great battle and the associated history and thus began the story of Mahabharata.