Astika interferes with the sacrifice

Seeing Janmejeya angry, Indra told Takshaka to leave as he did not to invite trouble. As soon as he did so, by the power of the sacrifice, Takshaka found himself being pulled into the sacrifice.

Astika saw his relative being pulled, and utter the mantra Tishta (Stop). Takshaka stopped in the mid air.

Astika then turned to the king and said he wanted something from the king. The king said he would happily give what the young sage wished for. He further said, let Takshaka burn and then all the wealth that was needed, would be given.

Astika said, if Takshaka burned, then there was nothing else for him to ask for. Parikshita dies because of a curse. Takshaka did not deliberately go and attack Parikshita. 

Hearing Astika speak, the sages and priests found this reasonable and decided to stop the sacrifice.

Vasuki and Takshaka and the other nagas blessed Astika.

Astika at the sacrifice

Entering the hall, Astika started reciting shlokas from the Vedas. He then started praising Janmajeya and his ancestors. Pleased the king asked him to ask for something for himself. Astika said he did not want anything. The king said he was looking for Takshaka. Astika said, Takshaka had taken refuge with Indra.
Janmajeya was angry. How dare Indra give shelter to an enemy?

Janmajeya's sacrifice

Tons of clarified butter, clothes and grains were ordered to get the snake sacrifice ready. All great rishis were invited for the event. With the chanting of the vedic mantras, the holy fire was lit.
The sages presiding over the sacrifice started by taking the names of nagas. Pulled by the power of the mantras, they got pulled into the fire. Soon the air was full of the stench from burning snakes.
Takshaka seeing this, along his followers ran and hid in Indra's abode.
Vasuki, the king of Nagas saw this. He asked his sister to send for Astika.
When Astika came, his mother told him, 'Our mother had cursed us to be destroyed in the snake sacrifice of Janmajeya. It had had also been said that you, Astika, will be the one who will save teh nagas from their destruction. Please go and stop this destruction'.

Astika left for the place where the sacrifice was happening. He was not allowed inside the sacrificial hall. Astika got angry and told the guards stopping him, were they not aware that stopping a brahman was not proper. The guards not knowing what to say,allowed him to go inside.

Astika is born

Leaving his wife, Jaratkaru left for the forests. His wife was alone. With eyes full of tears, Jaratkari left for her brother's house.
Vasuki wanted to know what troubled his sister. She said for no fault of mine, my husband has left me and gone off, never to return.
Vasuki consoled her. He said if you remember mother had cursed us to die in the snake sacrifice. We will survive the sacrifice because of your son. He will be our savior.
Jaratkari said her husband has also said the same before he left. He had said that this son of ours will save both my ancestors and your family.
Vasuki wanted to know why Jaratkaru had left the house. She told her the brother the whole story:

One day my husband was resting with his head on my lap. It was time for sunset - the time when one needs to get up, light the fire and don the worship.Fearing that he will face ill will as he was sleeping away, I woke him. He was angry when he work up. He said even dusk cannot come unless I wake up. As my wife you should have known this.
After this my husband said I had offend him, and he left.

Vasuki consoled his sister and told her not to worry. Her brother's house was her house and she had no cause to worry now.
On a full moon night, Jaratkari gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The boy was named Astika. When he grew up he started his education learning the vedas.