Takshaka said: -
1. O Kashyapa, if you are able to cure any creature bitten by me, then revive this tree bitten by me.
2. O best of Brahmanas, I bum this banian tree in your sight. Try your best; and show me your skill in Mantras of which you have just spoked.
Kashyapa said: -
3. O snake, if you are so minded, bite (the tree then). I shall revive it, though bitten by you.
Souti said: -
4. The king of the snakes, thus addressed by the illustrious Kashyapa, bit that banian tree.
5. The tree, bitten by the illustrious snake, and having embibed his poison, blazed up all around.
6. Having thus burnt the tree, the snake spoke again to Kashyapa, “O best of Brahmanas, try your best, and let this lord of the forest (the banian tree) be revived.”
7. The tree was reduced to ashes by the poison of the king of snakes. But taking up the ashes, Kashyapa spoke these words.
8. “O king of snakes, behold my power of learning in this lord of the forest. O snake, I shall revive it in your very presence.”
9. And then that best of Brahmanas the illustrious and learned Kashyapa, revived by his learning the tree which was reduced to a heap of ashes.
10. He first created the sprout, he then created two leaves in it. He then made the stem, then the branches, and then the full-grown tree with leaves and all.
11. Seeing that the tree was really revived by the illustrious Kashyapa, Takshaka said, “O Brahmana, it is not (at all) wonderful.
12. That you should destroy my poison or the poison of others like me. O king of Brahmanas, O Rishi, wishing to gain what wealth, are you bent on going there?
13. I shall give you the wealth you hope to get from that best of kings, however difficult may it be to get it.
14. O Brahmana, your success is doubtful, for that king is affected with a Brahmana’s curse, and the period of his life is also shortened.
15. Your blaring fame, that has over-spread the three worlds, will (then) disappear the sun deprived of his splendour.
Kashyapa said: -
16. I go there for wealth. Give it to me, O snake, so that I may go back receiving it from you.
Takshaka said: —
17. O best of Brahmanas, I shall give you wealth more than you hope to get from the king. Therefore do not go.
Souti said: —
18. Having heard what Takshaka said, the best of Brahmanas, the wise and greatly, powerful Kashyapa, sat m meditation.
19-20. The greatly powerful man (Kashyapa), ascertaining by bis ascetic powers that the period of the life of the king of the Pandava race had really run out, went back, after receiving from Takshaka as much wealth as he desired to possess. On the great Rishi Kashyapa’s departure, Takshaka went with speed towards Hastinapur.
21. Takshaka heard, on his way, that the king of the world was living very carefully, protected by poison-neutralising Mantras and medicines.
22. Thereupon the snake reflected, saying. “The king must be deceived by me by my Maya (power of delusion). But what “must be the means?”
23. Takshaka then sent some snakes in the guise of Brahmanas with fruits Kusha grass and water as presents.
Takshaka said: —
24. Go you all to (he king, saying that you have urgent business, and showing no impatience, as if you want to make him a present of the fruits, flowers and water.
Souti said: -
25. The snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, did (as they were ordered to do). They took to the king, Kusha grass, water and fruits.
26. The greatly powerful king of kings accepted their presents, and when their business was finished, he said, “Now retire.”
27. When those disguised snakes had gone away, the king addressed his ministers and friends, saying.
28. “Eat with me all these fruits of excellent taste, brought by the ascetics.”
29. Empelled by Fate, and the words of the Rishi, the king with his ministers desired to eat those fruits.
30-31. He himself ate the fruit within which Tashaka lay hidden. O Saunaka, when he was eating the fruit, there appeared from the fruit an ugly insect, of shape scarcely discernible, of black eyes and coppery color. The best of kings, taking up the insect, said to his councillors.
32-33. “The sun is setting, have no longer any fear from the poison to-day. Therefore, let this insect, becoming Takshaka, bite me, so that my sinful act be expatiated and the word of the ascetic may be true. And those councellors, impelled by Fate, approved of the speech of the king.
34. The monarch smiled and placed the insect on his head. His hour (of death) having come, he lost his senses.
35-36. And when the king was smiling, Takshaka, who had come out of the fruit that was offered to the king, coiled himself round the neck of the king. Uttering a tremendous roar, the king of the snakes immediately bit that protector of the world.
Thus ends the forty-third chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.