Janamejaya- Hindu FigureMortal"King of Hastinapura"

Father's Death

Janamejaya's story begins with the death of his father, King Parikshit. While hunting, the thirsty Parikshit entered the hermitage of the silent sage Shamika and, receiving no response to his requests for water, draped a dead snake around the meditating sage's neck. Shamika's son Shringi cursed Parikshit to die of snakebite within seven days. Parikshit secluded himself in a palace built atop a single pillar, surrounded by physicians and guards. Takshaka, king of the Nagas, infiltrated the stronghold disguised within a fruit offered by brahmins and delivered the fatal bite. The young Janamejaya inherited the throne and an implacable desire for revenge.

The Sarpa Satra

Janamejaya resolved to perform the Sarpa Satra, a fire sacrifice designed to summon and destroy every serpent in existence. The rite commenced with mantras of terrifying power. Snakes were drawn irresistibly through the air toward the fire, falling into the flames by the thousands. Takshaka fled to Indra's court and clung to the king of the gods for protection. The priests intensified their chanting. Even Indra's throne began to be dragged toward the fire, carrying both Indra and Takshaka with it.

Astika's Intervention

As the sacrifice threatened to exterminate the Naga race, the young sage Astika arrived. He was the son of the sage Jaratkaru and a Naga woman, sister of the serpent king Vasuki. Vasuki had arranged the marriage so that their offspring might one day save the serpents.

Astika impressed Janamejaya so deeply that the king offered him a boon. Astika asked for the cessation of the sacrifice. Janamejaya, bound by his word, halted the rite. Takshaka and the surviving Nagas were spared.

The Narration of the Mahabharata

During the Sarpa Satra, the sage Vaishampayana, a disciple of Vyasa, recited the entire Mahabharata to Janamejaya. He told the king the history of his own ancestors: the Pandavas and Kauravas, the exile, and the great war. The text as it has been transmitted is framed as what Vaishampayana told Janamejaya between rounds of fire and smoke, while the snakes fell burning from the sky.