Janamjeya is the son
of King Parikshit and the ruler of Hindu mythology following his father's
tragic death from the snake Takshaka's bite.
Because of Takshaka's participation in his father's murder,
Janamjeya has a strong dislike for serpents, and during his reign, he executes
the Sarpasatra, a massive sacrifice in which most of the world's snakes are
slaughtered.
Takshaka, with the assistance of a brahmin, manages to avert
the sacrifice before all of the earth's serpents are killed off.
As a visitor, the brahmin approaches Janamjeya's sacrifice
and demands that the sacrifice be halted.
Janamjeya is forced to shorten the ritual since a brahmin guest's request cannot be ignored, according to custom.
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