Janamejaya Vows and Initiates the Snake-Sacrifice

King Janamejaya, the tiger of the Bharata lineage, spoke to his ministers. He wanted revenge for his father. The ministers approved, and the king took an oath: he would undertake a snake-sacrifice. He summoned his priest and the officiating priests who knew about sacrifices. He was eloquent, his words aimed at making the deed successful. "I must act against the evil Takshaka who brought violence to my father," he said. "Please tell me what I must do. Do you know of an act whereby the snake Takshaka and his relatives can be hurled into the blazing fire? Just as my father was earlier burnt with the poison, I wish to burn that evil snake." The officiating priests replied. "O king! There is a sacrifice that the gods have recommended for those like you. It is known as the snake-sacrifice and it is described in the ancient tales. O lord of men! No one but you can offer this sacrifice. Those who know the ancient tales have told us there is such a sacrifice and we know it." Thus addressed, the rajarshi (royal sage) Janamejaya thought that Takshaka had already been hurled into the mouth of a blazing fire and burnt. He told the Brahmanas who were learned in the mantras, "I will perform the sacrifice. Collect the required ingredients." The officiating priests, hard in their resolve and learned in the shastras (scriptures), measured out a piece of land as the sacrificial platform, in accordance with the prescribed rites. It was graced by the presence of many learned Brahmanas and adorned with every valuable object, abundant quantities of riches and foodgrains. Before the snake-sacrifice could begin, they instated the king on this sacrificial platform.