Shounaka Asks Souti About Janamejaya's Snake-Sacrifice and Astika
In the Naimisharanya forest, the sage Shounaka asks the storyteller Souti why King Janamejaya tried to destroy all snakes, and why the Brahmana Astika saved them. He demands the full, beautiful story.
In the tranquil Naimisharanya forest, the sage Shounaka listened to the storyteller Souti. A question formed in his mind, pulling at a thread from a tale just hinted at.
He asked, “Why did that tiger among kings, Janamejaya, decide to conduct a snake-sacrifice until all the snakes were destroyed? And why did Astika, supreme among Brahmanas, save the snakes from the blazing fire? Whose son was the king? Whose son was that Brahmana? Tell us.”
Souti replied, “O best of the Brahmanas! O best of speakers! I shall recount in all its details the great story of Astika, as it was told. Listen.”
But Shounaka wanted more. “I wish to hear in detail the beautiful story of the ancient and famous Brahmana sage Astika.”
Souti then established the provenance of the tale. The wise knew it as history. It was first recounted by Krishna Dvaipayana — Vyasa himself — to the inhabitants of that very forest. Later, at the request of other Brahmanas, Souti’s own learned father, Lomaharshana — a suta and Vyasa’s disciple — had narrated it. Souti had been present.
“O Shounaka!” he said. “Since you have asked me, I shall recount the story of Astika exactly as I heard it.”