The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LVII
Section LVII.
( Astika Parva continued. )
Saunaka said, "O son of Suta, I desire to hear the names of all those snakes that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice."
Sauti replied, "Many thousands and tens of thousands and Arbudas (of snakes fell into the fire.) O excellent of Brahmanas, so great is the number that I am unable to count them all. As far, however, as I remember, hear thou the names I mention of the principal snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vasuki's race alone, of color blue, red, and white, terrible in form, and of body huge, and of dreadful poison.
"Kotisha, Manasa, Purna, Shala, Pala, Halimaka; Pitchchala, Kaunapa, Chakra, Kalavega, Prokalana; Hiranya-bahu, Sharana, Kakshaka, Kala-dantaka. These snakes, born of Vasuki, fell into the fire. And, O Brahmana, numerous other snakes born of the same race, of terrible form and great strength, were burnt in the blazing fire. I shall now mention those born in the race of Takshaka. Hear thou their names! Puchchandaka, Mandalaka, Pinda-sekta, Ravenaka; Uchchikha, Sharava, Vanga, Vilwa-teja, Virohana; Shili, Shali, Kara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana; Mudgara ard Shishu-roma, and Suroma and Moha-hanu. These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire. And Paravata, Parijata, Pandara, Harina, Krisha; Vihanga, Sharava, Meda, Pramoda, Sanha-tapana. These born in the race of Airavata fell into the fire. Now hear, O best of Brahmanas, the snakes I mention born of the race of Kauravya! Eraka, Kundala Veni, Veni-skandha, Kumaraka; Vahuka, Sringa-vera, Dhurtaka, Prata and Ataka. These 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 virulent poison, born in the race of Dhritarashtra. Shanku-karna, Pitharaka, Kuthara, Sukha-shechaka; Purnangada, Purna-mukha, Prahasa, Shakuni, Dari; Ama-hatha, Kamathaka, Sushena, Manasa, Avya; Vairava, Munda-vedanga, Pishanga, Udraparaka; Rishava, the snake Begavana, Pindaraka, Maha-hanu; Raktanga, Sarva-saranga, Samridha, Patha-vasaka; Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, Chitra-vegika, Parashara, Tarunaka, Mani-skandha, and Aruni.
"O Brahmana, thus I have 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 all burnt, having fallen into the fire, I am unable to mention. They are so many! Some of three heads, some of seven, others of ten, of poison like unto the fire at the end of the yuga, and terrible in form, were burnt by thousands!
"Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, of the length of a yama, a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of assuming at will any form and of mustering at will any degree of strength, of poison like unto blazing fire, afflicted by the curse of a mother, were burnt in that great sacrifice!"
And so ends the fifty-seventh Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.