The snakes were pleased that Astika convinced King Janamejaya to stop the Sarpa Satra Yajna. They offered Astika a boon. Astika requested that anyone who listens to his story, either in the morning or in the evening, should not be harmed by snakes. The snakes agreed, granting that anyone who recites the Sarpa Raksha Mantra need not fear snakes. The mantra states: “I recall in my mind Astika who was born to Jaratkaru…”

Kadru and Vinata were discussing Uccaihsravas. Vinata mentioned that the horse is white while Kadru claimed its tail is black. They took a bet about this and agreed that the loser will become a slave to the winner. To win the bet, Kadru asked her 1000 serpent sons to cover the tail of Uccaihsravas so that the tail appears black. The serpents refused. An angry Kadru then cursed her serpent sons that Agni will consume all of them in the Sarpa Yajna of Janamejaya.

Brahma consoled Rishi Kashyap that this curse on his sons is pre-ordained as the serpents had become evil and were troubling others. Since it is pre-ordained, the Rishi need not regret that the curse was uttered by their own mother. He also taught Rishi Kashyap Visha Harim Vidya, the antidote for snake venom.

Yudhiṣṭhira was cautious as he had already been warned by Vidhura about fire hazard. By the smell of fat and oil, Yudhiṣṭhira realised that the house was made of combustible material. After further inspection, he realised that it was made of lacquer. Bhīma suggested that they should shift to the house they were staying earlier. Yudhiṣṭhira however cautioned that if they leave the house, Purocana will suspect that their plot has been revealed. So he suggested that they should stay in the house, but plan to save themselves from the danger.

He was called so because he broke or crushed his grandfather’s desire to commit suicide. The name is a combination of Parā and śṛ śṛ daatu means ‘to Crush’.

Kulapati is a person who has hosted more than 10,000 Rishis and their families. Saunaka was the Kulapati and he conducted the Satra Yajna which was visited by Ugrashravas Sauti.

Yayāti and the kings were in a Yagashāla when five rathas appeared to take them to heaven. At the same time, Madhavi emerged from the Yagashāla. When the kings asked Madhavi who she was, she replied that the is the daughter of Yayāti. She requested Yayāti to accept her Punya as she is his daughter. She also said the kings are her descendants and therefore, even by Shastras, a man can accept the Puṇya of his daughter’s descendants.

Devas overcame Asuras within one minute in a fight. This took place Naimisaranyam (Nimisha + Aranyam). This is mentioned in Varaha Purana.

Brahma once released a Chakra resembling Surya. The tip of the Chakra was called Naimi. The place where the tip struck was deemed most suited for Tapas. This struck Naimisaranyam. This is narrated in Vayu Puranam.

The version of Mahabharata narrated in Naimisaranya is what we hear now.

Sarpa Satra Yajna did not take place in Naimisaranyam.

Uttanka carries the grudge that Takshaka interfered while Uttanka was carrying the Kundalas for his Guru’s wife. As a Brahmim he was not powerful to take on Takshaka. Therefore he incites Janamejaya. He tells Janamejaya that instead of enjoying his return from Taxila, he should instead take revenge on Takshaka. He adds that Janamejaya’s father Parikshit was a Dharmic king and he was needlessly bitten to death by Takshaka. To take revenge, Janamejaya must kill the entire snake species, that too through Sarpa Yajna.

Arunan became the charioteer of Surya. He was the only one who could reduce the Tejas and heat of Surya. After the episode with Rahu Surya became angry. He felt that he picked Rahu as an impostor and this benefitted all the devatas. However, he was left to face the enmity of Rahu while the devatas did not help. He decided that he would increase his heat and cause distress. He started becoming very hot. When Vainateya and Arunan were flying to meet Rishi Kashyap they also felt the heat. The distressed devatas asked Brahma for a solution and Brahma said if Arunan stands in front of Surya, his heat would be reduced. Rishi Kashyap mentioned this to Vainateya and Arunan when they came to meet him. Vainteaya took Arunan to Surya and from then onwards Arunan became the charioteer of Surya. The heat of Surya was also reduced.

During the twelve years when Saṃvaraṇan was sporting with Tapati, there were no rains in his kingdom. Crops, animals, people suffered and died. There was a severe famine. Sage Vasiṣṭha wanted to remedy the situation and so, he brought back Saṃvaraṇan and Tapati. When he stepped back into his kingdom, the skies started pouring copious rains. The kingdom started to prosper again.