Janamejaya, the son of King Parikshit, decided to perform the renowned Sarpa Shastra, or serpent sacrifice, to eliminate all the snakes on earth as revenge against the serpent Takshaka, who had killed his father. Thousands of snakes were summoned by the spells chanted during the yajna. They burned themselves in the sacred fire of the yajna.
However, Takshaka evaded the yajna because he was under Indra's protection. Realising that the king of the Devas safeguarded his primary enemy, Janamejaya ordered the priests to chant more powerful mantras.
These mantras forced Indra out of his abode, with Takshaka hanging on to him. When Indra saw the sacrificial fire, he released Takshaka and quickly fled.
Soon, Takshaka was heading toward the fire.
A young sage named Astika witnessed the horrifying scene of snakes being immolated during a yajna. Moved by compassion and determined to end the conflict, Astika approached King Janamejaya and urged him to recognise the futility of seeking revenge, reminding him of the devastating Kurukshetra War.
Astika's words convinced the king. As a result, the sage asked Janamejaya to stop and deliver the yajna as a gift. The king agreed, and in doing so, he saved Takshaka and many other serpents.
Pleased with Janamejaya, Sage Astika agreed to perform the Ashwamedha ritual for his benefit. During this Ashwamedha yajna, Sage Vaishampayan recited the tale of the Mahabharata. The king, who had contracted an incurable disease, was cured after listening to the complete Mahabharata. At the end of the Ashwamedha Yajna, Janamejaya desired to see his father and envisioned King Parikshit.
Though a well known story, i was not aware of the emergence of sage Astika and his successful advice to King Janamejaya to save Takshaka and lots of bc serpents who were drawn to the homa kunda.
ReplyDeleteHow one wishes such manifestations of gurus occur to advise during these troubled times where the worid is beset with great calamities.