addressed Janamejaya in anger, saying, 'this my son hath committed no fault: he hath not looked upon your sacrificial butter, nor hath he touched it with his tongue. Wherefore hath he been beat?' They gave not her a word in reply; whereupon she said, 'as ye have beat my son who hath committed no fault, therefore shall evil come upon ye when ye least expect it.'
"Janamejaya, thus addressed by the celestial bitch Saramā, became exceedingly alarmed and dejected. And after the sacrifice was concluded, he returned to Hastinapura, and began to take great pains in searching for a Purohita who could by procuring absolution for his sin, neutralise the effect of the curse.
"One day Janamejaya the son of Parikshita while ahunting, observed in a particular part of his dominions a hermitage where dwelt a certain Rishi of name Sruta-srava. He had a son named Soma-srava deeply engaged in ascetic devotions. Being desirous of appointing that son of the Rishi as his Purohita, Janamejaya the son of Parikshita saluted the Rishi and addressed him saying, 'O possessor of the six attributes, let this thy son be my purohita.' The Rishi thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, 'O Janamejaya, this my son, deep in ascetic devotions, accomplished in the study of the Vedas, and endued with the full force of my asceticism, is born of the womb of a she-snake that had drunk my vital fluid. He is able to absolve thee from all offences save those committed against Mahadeva. But he hath one particular habit, viz., he would grant to any Brahmana whatever might be demanded of him. 'If thou canst put np with it, then take thou him.' Janamejaya thus addressed replies to the Rishi 'it shall be even so.' And accepting him for his Purohita, he returned to his capital; and he then addressed his brothers saying, 'this is the person I have chosen for my spiritual master: whatsoever he may say must be compiled by you without examination.' And his brothers did as they were directed. And giving these directions to his brothers, the king marched towards Takshyashila and brought that country under his authority.
"About this time there was a Rishi of name Ayodha-Dhaumya. And Ayoda-Dhaumya had three disciples, Upamanyu, Aruni, and Veda. And the Rishi bade one of these disciples,
