Astika vows to save Vasuki and goes to the sacrifice
Vasuki, the king of snakes, is paralyzed by the terror of the curse and the impending sacrificial fire. His nephew Astika makes an unbreakable vow: he will go to King Janamejaya and stop the sacrifice with auspicious words. To prove his resolve, he takes Vasuki's fever onto his own limbs.
Astika addressed his suffering uncle, Vasuki, and brought fresh life into him. "O Vasuki! O supreme among snakes! I will save you. I truly tell you that I shall free you from this curse. O snake! Be reassured and banish all fear. O tranquil one! I shall endeavour to bring about your welfare." He made his promise absolute. "No one can say that my tongue has ever uttered a lie, even in jest, not to speak of serious occasions. O uncle! I will go to Janamejaya, supreme among kings, now instated in the sacrifice. I shall please him with words that bring him good fortune. The king will then restrain himself from the sacrifice. O king of snakes! O one with great intelligence! Believe all that I say. Believe that what I have resolved is always fulfilled."
Vasuki was beyond reassurance. "O Astika! My head is whirling and my heart is splintering. I cannot see the directions and I am oppressed because of the curse of a Brahmana."
Astika's response was a vow of protection. "O supreme among snakes! You should not suffer any more. I shall destroy the fear that comes to you from the blazing fire and the curse of the Brahmana, which has energy like the terrible fire at the time of destruction. You need not fear any more." Then he did something more than speak. He removed the terrible fever from Vasuki's mind and took it onto his own limbs. Freed from his paralysis, Vasuki watched as Astika, supreme among Brahmanas, swiftly departed for where Janamejaya's sacrifice, adorned with all the qualities, was being held.