Janamejaya said: 'This is what I wish to hear — the conversation between the king of serpents and Kashyapa, in the empty forest wilderness, that took place then. By whom was it seen and heard, that it has reached your ears? Having heard this, I shall resolve upon a course bringing destruction to the serpents.' The counselors said: 'Listen, O king, how and by whom this was told to us before — the meeting of the lord of the twice-born and the king of serpents on the road. A certain man, O lord, had earlier climbed that forest tree with dry branches for the sake of firewood, unnoticed there upon the tree by those two, the naga and the brahmin. He, together with that tree, was then turned to ashes; but by the power of the brahmin, O king of kings, he was revived along with the tree. He, having come, O best of kings, told in this city all that had happened, concerning Takshaka and the brahmin. This has been told to you, O king, as it happened and as it was heard; having heard it, O tiger among kings, act as you desire.' The suta said: 'Having heard the counselors' words, that king Janamejaya, stricken with grief, was tormented and wrung hand against hand. The lotus-eyed king again and again let out long, hot sighs, and shed tears from his eyes, and, overcome with grief and sorrow, the lord of the earth said: "Having heard this word of yours concerning my father's passing to heaven, this is my resolved decision — hear it. I hold that vengeance must first of all be exacted upon Takshaka, the wicked one, by whom my father was slain. For if that sinner, having carried out the word of the sage Shringi and burned the king, had simply gone his way — would not my father then be alive? What would he, Takshaka, have lost, if that king had lived by Kashyapa's grace and the good counsel of the ministers? But he, in his delusion, prevented Kashyapa, best of the twice-born, who had come to revive the unconquered king. For this is a great transgression on the part of the wicked Takshaka — that he gave wealth to the brahmin, saying, 'Let him not revive the king.' In pleasing Uttanka, and doing great good to myself, and to all of you, I shall go forth to avenge my father."'