Meanwhile, the preparations for the great snake sacrifice were almost complete. The great arena had been prepared by the best Brahmana Ritviks of the time and by the perfect connoisseurs of the science of the sacred Vedas and of the technical aspects concerning the various ceremonials. Preparations were in full swing, and no detail was overlooked. The sacrificial platform and everything else were in full accord with the Vedic ordinances.
The guests, many of them wise men famous for their knowledge and for their strict observance of the principles of spirituality began to arrive. Among others were Vyasa and his son Shukadeva, accompanied by their disciples. Uddalaka, Pramataka, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya and hundreds and thousands of others also came. Basically, the most important personalities of the time were there.
When the sacrifice began, the atmosphere vibrated under the magical effect of the sounds and melodies of the Vedic mantras recited by the Brahmanas, while the fire of the sacrifice, fueled relentlessly by the abundant libations of clarified butter, flared higher and higher.
For days and days the priests, dressed completely in black, continued to recite the hymns of the Vedas louder and louder and throw the purified butter into the flames. The intense heat caused sores all over their bodies and made their eyes so red that they almost bled, but they did not care for the pain and continued to carry out their respective duties disciplinedly. Then, when the spell became strong enough, they began to chant the mantras intended for the destruction of the reptiles in chorus and out loud, calling them by name, one by one.
At that point, immobilized and prisoners of that indisputable force, the snakes began to feel themselves being sucked in the direction of the arena, towards the fire that, very high and voracious, seemed to be waiting for them. Crying out in terror, one by one they began to fall into it, first by the tens, then by the thousands and then again by the hundreds of thousands. The noise of the large reptiles falling into the fire and the stench of their burnt bodies began to invade the atmosphere, while the Brahmanas continued to recite the divine hymns.
Meanwhile, Takshaka, the author of Pariksit’s death, had taken refuge on a celestial planet, in Amaravati, the planet of his friend Indra, who had assured him that there he would be protected from the devastating effect of the mantras. Instead, at a certain point he too felt as if he were in a hypnotic state and was dragged by a higher force towards the Earth. Terrified, he called Indra to his aid, but although he tried to hold him back, the power of the Brahmanas sucked Takshaka into space and in a few minutes he found himself in the Earth’s atmosphere.
In the meantime, Indra had not given up and with all his strength was still trying to prevent him from falling further, while the Naga screamed in despair:
“Help me Indra, my friend, only you can save my life! Don’t abandon me!”
But those mantras were so powerful that they ended up pulling even the Deva of the rain in the direction of the terrible fire.
The situation was becoming terribly critical. Even the most powerful Nagas, including the sovereign himself, began to feel uneasy and a strong sense of panic overwhelmed everyone. Janamejaya’s sacrifice was being fulfilled perfectly.
At that point, the only thing that could be done was to turn to Astika, who was their last chance of salvation.
This is a section of the book “Maha-bharata, Vol. 1”.
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