By “Soota continued, ‘Ruru then asked, ‘O best of Dwijas (Dwija means twice-born, while the first birth is natural, the second birth occurs upon the realisation of the Supreme Soul) (Here Ruru calls Sahasrapat as Dwija), why was king Janamejaya bent upon destroying snakes? And why and how were they (snakes) saved by the wise Aastika? I am anxious to hear all this in detail.’
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – PAULOMA (UPA) PARVA – PART 12 – RURU FAINTS
“The Rishi (Sahasrapat) replied, ‘O Ruru, the important history of Aastika you will learn from the lips of Brahmanas.’ Saying this, he (Sahasrapat) vanished.
“Soota continued, ‘Ruru ran about in search of the missing Rishi (Sahasrapat), and having failed to find him in all the forest, fell down on the ground, tired. Revolving in his mind the words of the Rishi, he was greatly confused and seemed to be deprived of his senses. Regaining consciousness, he came home and asked his father (Pramati) to narrate the history (of Aastika) in question. Thus asked, his father (Ruru’s father Pramati) narrated all about the story.’”
