Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 16
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
जन्मेजय: स्वपितरं श्रुत्वा तक्षकभक्षितम् । यथा जुहाव सङ्क्रुद्धो नागान् सत्रे सह द्विजै: ॥ १६ ॥
janmejayaḥ sva-pitaraṁ śrutvā takṣaka-bhakṣitam yathājuhāva saṅkruddho nāgān satre saha dvijaiḥ
Ao ouvir que seu pai fora mortalmente mordido por Takṣaka, o rei Janamejaya enfureceu-se e, com os brāhmaṇas, realizou o grande sacrifício Sarpasatra, oferecendo todas as serpentes ao fogo.
FAQs
This verse states that Janamejaya, enraged after hearing his father Parīkṣit was killed by Takṣaka, conducted a satra-yajña with brāhmaṇas to cast serpents into the sacrificial fire.
He acted out of grief and anger upon learning that Takṣaka, a serpent, had caused his father’s death, so he sought retaliatory justice through a ritual sacrifice.
It highlights how anger can drive destructive reactions; the Bhagavata’s broader message urges self-control and dharmic discernment rather than vengeance.