By “(Rishi) Shaunaka said, ‘O son of a Soota, I desire to hear the names of all those snakes that fell into the fire of this Sarpa Satra (snake-sacrifice)!’
“Soota replied, ‘Many thousands, tens of thousands and billions of snakes fell into the fire. O most excellent Dwija (Rishi Shaunaka), so great is the number that I am unable to count them all. So far, however, as I remember, hear the names I mention of the main snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vaasuki’s race (Kula in Sanskrit) alone, of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and huge body and deadly poison. Helpless, miserable and pained with their mother’s curse, they fell into the sacrificial Agni like libations of butter.
“Kotishaa, Maanasa, Poorna, Shala, Paalaa, Haleemaka, Pichchala, Kaunapa, Chakra, Kaalavega, Prakaalana, Hiranyabaahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, Kaaladantaka–these snakes born of Vaasuki, fell into the fire. O Brahmana (Rishi Shaunaka), numerous other snakes well-born, and of terrible form and great strength, were burnt in the blazing fire.
“I shall now mention those born in the race of Takshaka. You hear their names. Puchchaandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasektha, Rabhenaka, Uchochikha, Sharabha, Bhangaa, Vilwatejaa, Virohana; Shili, Shalakaraa, Mooka, Sukumaara, Pravepana, Mudgara and Shishuromaa, Suromaa and Mahahanu. These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire.
“Paaraavata, Paarijaata, Paandaraa, Harina, Krisha, Vihanga, Sharabhaa, Meda, Pramoda, Samhataapana – these born in the race of Airaavata fell into the Agni. Now hear, O best of Dwijas (Rishi Shaunaka), the names of the snakes I mention born in the race of Kauravya: Eraka, Kundalaa, Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaaraka, Baahuka, Sringavera, Dhoortaka, Praataraa and Astakaa. There born in the race of Kauravya fell into the fire.
“Now hear the names I mention, in order, of those snakes endued with the speed of the wind and with venomous poison, born in the race of Dhritarashtra: Shankukarna, Pitharaka, Kuthaaramukha, and Sechakaa; Poornangada, Poornamukha, Prahaasa, Shakuni, Dari, Amaahatha, Kaamathaka, Sushenaa, Maanasaa, Vyaya, Bhairavaa, Mundavedanga, Pishaanga, Udrapaaraka, Rishabhaa, Vegavaan, Pindaaraka, Mahaamanoo; Raktanga, Sarvasaaranga, Samriddha, Pata and Vaasaka; Varaahakaa, Veeranaka, Suchitra, Chitravegika, Paraashara, Tarunaka, Mani, Skandha and Aruni.
“O Brahmana (Rishi Shaunaka), I have thus recited the names of the principal snakes known widely for their achievements – I have not been able to name all, the number being countless. The sons of these snakes, the sons of those sons, that were burnt having fallen into the Agni, I am unable to mention. They are so many! Some of three heads, some of seven, others of ten, of poison like to the fire at the end of the yuga and terrible in form – they were burnt by thousands!
“Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, of the length of a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of assuming at will any form and of mastering at will any degree of strength, of poison like to blazing fire, pained by the curse of a mother, were burnt in that great yagna.’”
SUMMARY:
Son of Soota lists the names of principal snakes that were cast into Agni during the Sarpa Satra of Janamejaya
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AADI PARVA > AASTIKA PARVA > CHAPTER 57 – SNAKES THAT WERE BURNT
