Verse 16

¹⁶Janamejaya, hearing that his father had been eaten by Taksaka, in his anger offered up the nagas in a sacrifice, with the brahmins as his priests; and this is how. ¹⁷At the snake sacrifice, seeing the great serpents burning in the kindled fire, Taksaka, shaken with fear, went to Indra for shelter. ¹⁸Not seeing Taksaka there, the king, Pariksit's son, said to the brahmins: why does Taksaka not burn, lowest of serpents that he is? ¹⁹Sakra is guarding him, lord of kings; he has come to him for shelter. He is held fast by that one, and so he does not fall into the fire. ²⁰Hearing this, Pariksit's son, of a large mind, said to his priests: then why, brahmins, is Taksaka not made to fall into the fire, Indra and all?

²¹Hearing that, the brahmins offered Taksaka up in the sacrifice, Indra and all: Taksaka, fall here quickly, and Indra of the winds along with you. ²²At these throwing words spoken by the brahmins Indra was shaken out of his place. His mind went whirling, and down he came, with his flying car and with Taksaka.