The suta said: ‘Hearing this, the consecrated king sat in torment, urging the hotar on toward the moment of the rite. And the hotar, diligent, made offerings with mantras; and then Indra himself came, mounted upon his celestial chariot, great in majesty, praised by all the gods, attended by clouds, vidyadharas, and hosts of apsarases. Hidden in his upper garment, that serpent [Takshaka], seized by fear, found no peace. Then the king, enraged, once more, desiring Takshaka’s destruction, said to the knowers of mantras: “If, O brahmins, the serpent Takshaka is in Indra’s abode, then cast him into the fire together with Indra himself.”’ The priests said: ‘Here comes Takshaka swiftly into your power, O king; his mighty roar is heard, bellowing terribly in fear. Indeed, he has been released by the Wielder of the Thunderbolt; broken by the mantras, fallen from Indra’s lap, whirling in the sky, bereft of his senses, the king of serpents approaches, breathing searing sighs. This rite of yours, O lord of kings, proceeds as it should, O sovereign; now you are bound to grant a boon to this foremost of the twice-born.’