Janamejaya acquires Somashrava as his priest
Seeking a priest to counteract a curse, King Janamejaya finds the sage Shrutashrava and his son Somashrava. He wants the son as his priest, but the father warns him: Somashrava has a secret vow to give away anything a Brahmana asks for. Janamejaya accepts the condition.
After the sacrifice where he was cursed, Janamejaya returned to Hastinapura and searched for a priest who could counteract the curse and pacify his sin. One day, while out hunting, he saw a hermitage in a lonely part of his kingdom. The rishi Shrutashrava lived there with his beloved son, Somashrava.
Desiring to make the son his priest, Janamejaya saluted the sage and said, "O Bhagavan! Please allow your son to be my priest."
Shrutashrava replied, "O Janamejaya! My son is a great ascetic and is endowed with learning. But he was born to me in the womb of a snake that had swallowed my semen. He can absolve you from all sins except those committed against Mahadeva. However, he has a secret vow. If a Brahmana asks for anything from him, he always gives it away. If you can accept that, take him with you."
Janamejaya said, "O Bhagavan! It shall be as you say." He accepted Somashrava as his priest and returned.
He then told his brothers, "I have accepted this person as my teacher. Without questioning, you must always do what he asks you." The brothers obeyed. Having secured his priest, Janamejaya then marched against the kingdom of Takshashila and brought it under his control.