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JANAMEJAYA I 346 JANAMEJAYA I King mistaking the sage's silence for haughtiness threw Yajna gala. Janamejaya received the young Sage with in anger a dead snake round his neck and went away. all respect and promised to grant his desire what- But, within seven days of the incident Pariksit was ever that be. Astlka's demand was that the Sarpa Satra bitten to death by Taksaka, king of the Nagas accord- should be stopped. Though Janamejaya was not for ing to the curse pronounced on him by Gavijata, stopping the yajna, he was reminded of his promise to son of sage Samika. grant any desire of Astlka and the latter insisted on the Janamejaya was only an infant at the time of his stopping of the Satra. Janamejaya stopped it. Astlka father's death. So the obsequies of the late king were blessed that the serpents which had died at the Satra his ministers. After that at an attain salvation. performed by auspicious would (Adi Parva, Chapters 52-58 ; time Janamejaya was crowned King. Within a short Devi Bhagavata, 2nd Skandha) . time he mastered statecraft. Dhanurvidya was taught 6) Listens to the Bhdrata story. While the Sarpa Satra by Krpacarya. Very soon he earned reputation as an was being conducted Vyasa came over there and related efficient administrator. He got married in due course. the whole story of the Mahabharata at the request of (Devi Bhagavata, 2nd Skandha) . Janamejaya. (Adi Parva, Chapter 60) . 4) His hatred towards snakes. In the course of a talk 7) Saramd's curse. Janamejaya along with his brother one day with Janamejaya Uttanka the sage detailed to once performed a yajna of long duration at Kuruksetra. him the circumstances of his father's death. Only While the yajna was going on, a dog (son of Saram'a then did he understand the actual cause of Pariksit's the bitch of the Devas) came there. The three brothers death, and the information kindled in him intense of Janamejaya beat the dog which returned to its feelings of revenge not only against serpents but also mother, Sarama, crying. The mother asked him whe- against the whole serpent dynasty. (Devi Bhagavata, ther he had done anything to deserve the beating, and : I 2nd Skandha) . he answered thus "No, mother, had done nothing 5) Sarpasatra. (Serpent yajna}. Janamejaya sought wrong. I did not lick the havis, nor did I even look at the advice of priests and Rtviks as to how best revenge it." Hearing her son's reply Sarama in deep anguish, could be taken against the serpents, and they advised went to Kuruksetra and questioned Janamejaya as to him to perform the great Yajna called Sarpasatra. why her innocent son was beaten by his brothers. Nei- And, accordingly all necessary arrangements for the ther he nor his brothers replied to Sarama, and she Satra were made, and the King began dlksa (Initiation) cursed Janamejaya that he would be subjected to for it (to live for a few days under severe routine to adrstaphala (unforeseen results). This curse upset that prepare the author of the yajna for it). But the priest Janamejaya so much after the Sarpa Satra was who made the arrangements looked into signs about the over and on his return to Hastinapura he made a search successful conclusion of the yajna and opined that it for a Purohita (priest) competent enough to redeem would be obstructed by a brahmin, and, the King, him from his sins, and at last he invited Somaxravas, therefore, ordered strict steps to be taken against the son of the great sage Srutasravas to be his Purohita, and entry of strangers into the Yagasala. thus did Somasravas become the priest of Janamejaya And, the Sarpasatra began. High priests wore black (Adi Parva, Chapter 3) . and mantras made in clothes, chanting they offerings 8) Successors ofJanamejaya. Janamejaya had two sons, the sacred fire, and this created a burning sensation in Candraplda and Suryaplda by his wife Kasya. Hundred the hearts of one after another serpents. They began, sons, experts in archery, were born to Candraplda. The to come and fall into the fire. All varieties of serpents eldest of them, Satyakarna, ruled the country after Jana- got consumed by the fire thus. mejaya. Satyakarna had a son called Svetakarna to Sages like Uttanka, Candabhargava, Sarngarava, Vyasa, whom was born a son called Ajapiirsva by his wife Uddalaka, Atreya, Pramataka, Svetaketu, Narada, Yadavl, the daughter of Sucaru. (Bhavisya Parva, Devala, Kalaghata, isrutasravas, Kohala, DevaSarman, Chapter 1). and Samasaurabha acted as Rtviks at the Maudgalya 9) Other Information Satra. Though almost all the serpents courted death in (1) Janamejaya defeated the King of Taksarlila and sub- the fire, Taksaka alone did not come. Fear-stricken he the jugated country. Adi Parva, Chapter 3, Verse 20) . had taken refuge with Indra. (2) The Sage called Veda was the preceptor of Jana As the chanting of mantras increased in intensity and mejaya. (Adi Parva, Chapter 3, Verse 82) . volume Vasuki began to feel the burning sensation. He After the an requested his sister Jaratkaru to find out some means (3) Sarpa Satra, Janamejaya performed Asvamedha at which delivered a of escape from the Satra, and at the instance of Jarat- yajna Vyasa lengthy discourse on life and salvation. As said karu her son Astlka set out for the palace of Janame- Janamejaya that if he were to believe the words of his dead jaya to obstruct the Yajna. Vyasa father Pariksit should be shown to him. Though the Rtviks invoked for a long time Taksaka did Vyasa brought Pariksit down from and showed him to his son. not appear. Enraged at his absence Uttanka searched Svarga On the occasion were also Samlka and for Tak?aka with his divine eyes and found him seated present sage his son on the throne of Indra along with him, who had given Sriigl. (Alramavasika Parva, Chapter 35), him (Taksaka) asylum. This challenge of Indra kindled 10) Life time of Janamejaya. The great war at Kuru- the wrath of Uttanka all the more, and he invoked ksetra was fought in 3 138 B.C. (See under Mahabharata) Indra, Taksaka and Indra's throne too so that all of After the war was over the Pandavas ruled the country took to them might together come and fall into the fire. And, for 36 years. Vyasa three years compose the lo! there came the whole lot of them. Only two minutes Mahabharata. According to the Mahaprasthtinika Parva more and all of them would be reduced to ashes. the Pandavas set out for the forest after handing over By now Astlka, the son ofJaratkaru had arrived at the the government to Pariksit, who ruled the country for.
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