By Uttannka Sings the Glory of the snakes as sloka and doing a pooja. Essentially Naga Pooja to get blessed. This is a clear proof of not only how to get the job done but also, What Santana Dharma teaches on how to treat anyone including the snakes, trees and other members of Animal kingdom
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – PAUSHYA (UPA) PARVA – PART 3(G) – UTANKA PRAISES NAAGAS
“Soota continued, “On the road, Uttanka viewed that a naked idle beggar coming towards him sometimes coming in view (of Uttanka) and sometimes disappearing (from the view of Uttanka). Uttanka put the ear-rings on the ground and went for water. In the meantime the beggar, came quickly to the spot and taking up the ear-rings ran away. Uttanka having completed his washing in water, purified himself and having also respectfully bowed down to Devas and his spiritual masters, (and then) chased the thief (that naked idle beggar) with the utmost speed. Having with great difficulty overtaken him, he (Uttanka) catched him (beggar) by force. But at that instant the person catched, quitting the form of a beggar and assuming his real form – that of Takshaka, speedily entered a large hole open in the ground. Having got in, Takshaka proceeded to his own region, the Naagaloka.
“Now, Uttanka, recollecting the words of the Queen, followed the Snake (Takshaka), and began to dig open the hole with a stick but was unable to make much progress. (Lord) Indra seeing his suffering sent his Vajra to his assistance. Then the Vajra entering that stick and enlarged that hole. Uttanka began to enter the hole after the Vajra. Having entered it, he saw the Naagaloka infinite in area, filled with hundreds of palaces and elegant mansions with towers and domes and gate-ways, filled with wonderful places for various games and entertainments. Uttanka then glorified the snakes by the following shlokas:
“O Snakes, subjects of King Airaavata, splendid in battle and showering weapons in the (battle)field like lightning-charged clouds driven by the winds! O children of Airaavata, handsome and of various forms and decked with many coloured ear-rings, you shine like the Sun in the sky! On the northern banks of Ganga are many habitations of snakes. There I constantly adore the great snakes. Who except Airaavata would desire to move in the burning rays of the Sun? When Dhritarashtra (Airaavata’s brother) goes out, twenty-eight thousand and eight (28,008) snakes follow him as his attendants. You who move near him and you who stay at a distance from him, I adore all of you that have Airaavata for your elder brother. O Takshaka, also I adore you, to obtain the ear-rings, who formerly stayed in Kurukshetra and the forest of Khandava! Takshaka and Ashwasena, you are constant companions who stay in Kurukshetra on the banks of the Ikshumati! I also adore the illustrious Srutasena, the younger brother of Takshaka, who resided at the holy place called Mahadyumna with a view to obtaining the Chiefship of snakes.
THE SANSKRIT VERSE OF THE SHLOKA THAT ADORE SNAKES IS AS BELOW:
य ऎरावतराजानः सर्पाः समितिशोभनाः |
वर्षन्त इव जीमूताः सविद्युत्पवनेरताः ||
सुरूपाश्च विरूपाश्च तथा कल्माषकुण्डलाः |
आदित्यवन्नाकपृष्टे रेजुरैरावतोद्भवाः ||
बहूनि नागवर्त्मानि गङ्गायास्तीर उत्तरे |
इच्छेत्कोअर्कांशुसेनायां चर्तुमैरावतं विना ||
शतान्यशीतिरष्टौ च सहस्त्राणि च विंशति |
सर्पाणां प्रग्रहा यान्ति धृतराष्ट्रो यदेजति ||
ये चैनमुपसर्पन्ति ये च दूरं परं गताः |
अहमैरावतजयेष्ठभ्रातृभ्योअकरवं नमः ||
यस्य वासः कुरुक्षेत्रे खाण्डवे चाभवत्सदा |
तं काद्रवेयमस्तौषं कुण्डलार्थाय तक्षकम् ||
तक्षकश्चाश्वसेनश्च नित्यं सहचरावुभौ |
कुरुक्षेत्रे निवसतां नदिमिक्षुमतीमनु ||
जघन्यजस्तक्षकस्य श्रुतसेनेति यः श्रुतः |
अवसद्यो महद्द्युम्नि प्रार्थयन्नागमुख्यताम् ||
करवाणि सदा चाहं नमस्तस्मै महात्मने ||
