Angry Janmejaya conducts the Snake Yajna to kill snakes

Janmejaya was furious with the snakes for having been the cause of his father's death. His eyes filled with tears and he said, " I have heard the whole story of my father's death. I have decided to punish Takshak for what he did. The curse of Rishi Shringi was just an excuse to kill my father. Takshak could have allowed the Brahmin to come to my father. And after he had bitten and killed my father, the Brahmin could have revived my father. In this way the curse would also be fulfilled and my father would be alive too. By sending the Brahmin back, Takshak has proved that he is to be blamed entirely for my father's death. Therefore I am determined to punish him." He then called all the priests and saints and asked them whether there was any way in which the snakes could be destroyed in a blazing fire. The priests replied that there is provision for such a Yajna in the Puranas. Nobody can begin this yajna except you and we know the method to perform the rituals of the yajna. Listening to the wise words of the saints, Janmejaya was convinced that Takshak would surely die. He ordered for the offerings of the Yajna to be collected and all the preparations to begin. The place was chosen for the Yajna to be performed, and the earth was measured and an elaborate tent was erected there. But a strange thing happened then. One of the priests who was very intelligent, knowledgeable and experienced said, "Considering the place that has been chosen for the Yajna, and the time that it is supposed to begin, I predict that this yajna will be stopped by a brahmin." Hearing this, Janmejaya ordered his sentries not to let anyone inside the premises of the Yajna. Then the great Yajna started according to the right rituals and the fire was lit. The priests were wearing black clothes and their eyes were red with the smoke. They started the yajna with the proper chanting of mantras and shlokas. It created terror in the hearts of the snakes. Gradually the snakes one by one, involuntarily started to be drawn towards the fire of the yajna and falling inside it. Young and old, black and red, long and short, poisonous and non-poisonous, all types of snakes started falling into the fire. Great clans of all the great saints like Chyavan, Kautsa, Jaimini, Shrangrava and Pingla were present in the yajna. Great saints like Vyasa, Udwalak, Pramataka, Shwetketu, Asit and Deval were there with their sons and pupils. They would call the names of the snakes and they would fall helplessly in the fire. There was the smell of the burning flesh and fat of the snakes pervading the air and the screams of the dying snakes rented the atmosphere. Takshak too heard of the yajna and was filled with fear. He went to Indra, the god of thunder and begged him to save his life. Indra assured him that no harm would come to him as he had already asked Brahma to spare the life of Takshak. He told Takshak that he needn't fear the snake yajna and that he could stay in Indralok (the house of Indra) for as long as he pleases. Takshak was relieved and stayed in his house after that.