Sūta said: 'When that seventh day arrived, O best of the twice-born, the learned Kāśyapa set out to heal that king. For word had reached him that now Takṣaka, best of serpents, would lead that best of kings to the abode of Yama. [And he thought:] "I shall heal the one bitten by the lord of serpents (free him from the burning of the poison); in that will lie for me both gain (artha) and dharma." That Kāśyapa, walking alone, with a focused mind, was seen upon the road by Takṣaka, king of serpents, [who had taken] the form of an aged brahmin. And the king of serpents said to Kāśyapa, bull among sages: "Where do you hasten? What deed do you intend to accomplish?" Kāśyapa said: "The king of the Kuru line, Parikṣit, tamer of foes, will now be burned by the fire of Takṣaka, best of serpents. The one bitten by the lord of serpents, whose fire is like flame — that king, the pillar of the Pāṇḍava line, immeasurably mighty — I go, O gentle one, in haste, to free him at once from the burning of the poison." Takṣaka said: "I am that very Takṣaka, O brahmin; I shall burn that lord of the earth. Turn back — you have not the power to heal one bitten by me." Kāśyapa said: "That king, bitten by you, O serpent, I shall free from the burning of the poison — such is my resolve, resting upon the strength of my knowledge (vidyā)."'