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Library:How Jaratkaru marries Jaratkaru to prevent Yayavaras, the ancestors from falling down!
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke.
kimarthaṃ rājaśārdūlaḥ sa rājā janamejayaḥ । sarpasatreṇa sarpāṇāṃ gato'ntaṃ tadvadasva me ॥1-13-1॥
O tiger among kings, please tell me why King Janamejaya conducted the snake sacrifice that led to the end of the snakes.
āstīkaśca dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kimarthaṃ japatāṃ varaḥ । mokṣayāmāsa bhujagāndīptāttasmāddhutāśanāt ॥1-13-2॥
Āstīka, the revered sage, questioned the purpose and released the serpents from the blazing fire.
kasya putraḥ sa rājāsītsarpasatraṃ ya āharat . sa ca dvijātiprvaraḥ kasya putro vadasva me ॥1-13-3॥
Tell me, whose son was the king who performed the snake sacrifice, and whose son is considered the best among the twice-born?
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said.
mahadākhyānam āstīkaṃ yatraitat procyate dvija । sarvam etad aśeṣeṇa śṛṇu me vadatāṃ vara ॥1-13-4॥
O noble one, listen to the complete great story of Āstīka as it is narrated here. Hear it all from me, the best among speakers.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke.
śrotum icchāmi aśeṣeṇa kathām etām manoramām । āstīkasya purāṇasya brāhmaṇasya yaśasvinaḥ ॥1-13-5॥
I wish to hear the entire delightful story of the renowned ancient Brāhmaṇa Āstīka.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said.
itihāsam imaṃ vṛddhāḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate । kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaproktaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ ॥1-13-6॥
The elders of Naimisharanya describe this ancient history as narrated by Krishna Dvaipayana.
pūrvaṃ pracoditaḥ sūtaḥ pitā me lomaharṣaṇaḥ । śiṣyo vyāsasya medhāvī brāhmaṇairidamuktavān ॥1-13-7॥
Previously, my father Lomaharṣaṇa, who was instructed and was a wise disciple of Vyāsa, was told this by the Brāhmaṇas.
tasmād aham upaśrutya pravakṣyāmi yathātatham । idam āstīkam ākhyānaṃ tubhyaṃ śaunaka pṛcchate ॥1-13-8॥
Therefore, having heard it, I will truthfully narrate this story of Āstīka to you, O Śaunaka, as you ask.
āstīkasya pitā hy āsīt prajāpatisamaḥ prabhuḥ । brahmacārī yatāhāras tapasy ugre rataḥ sadā ॥1-13-9॥
Āstīka's father was a lord comparable to Prajāpati, always devoted to severe austerity, celibate, and disciplined in his diet.
jaratkāruriti khyāta ūrdhvaretā mahānṛṣiḥ । yāyāvarāṇāṃ dharmajñaḥ pravaraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ ॥1-13-10॥
Jaratkaru, a great sage known for his celibacy, was eminent among the wanderers, recognized for his knowledge of dharma and firm vows.
aṭamānaḥ kadācitsa svāndadarśa pitāmahān । lambamānānmahāgarte pādairūrdhvairadhomukhān ॥1-13-11॥
Once, while wandering, he saw his ancestors hanging upside down in a great pit, suspended by their feet.
tān abravīt sa dṛṣṭvā eva jaratkāruḥ pitāmahān । ke bhavantaḥ avalambante garte asmin vā adhomukhāḥ ॥1-13-12॥
Jaratkaru, upon seeing his ancestors, asked them why they were hanging in the pit or facing downward.
vīraṇastambake lagnāḥ sarvataḥ paribhakṣite । mūṣakena nigūḍhena garte'sminnityavāsinā ॥1-13-13॥
The grass clump was entirely eaten by a mouse that was hidden in the hole, where it permanently resided.
pitara ūcuḥ॥
The fathers spoke.
yāyāvarā nāma vayamṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ । santānaprakṣayādbrahmannadho gacchāma medinīm ॥1-13-14॥
We, the sages known as wanderers with firm vows, are descending to the earth, O Brahman, due to the extinction of progeny.
asmākaṃ santatistveko jaratkāruriti śrutaḥ । mandabhāgyo'lpabhāgyānāṃ tapa eva samāsthitaḥ ॥1-13-15॥
Our lineage is known to consist of only one person, Jaratkaru, who is heard to be of little fortune. Among those with little fortune, he is solely engaged in penance.
na sa putrāñjanayituṃ dārānmūḍhaścikīrṣati । tena lambāmahe garte santānaprakṣayādiha ॥1-13-16॥
The foolish man does not wish to have children or wives. As a result, we find ourselves in a pit here due to the decline of progeny.
anāthāstena nāthena yathā duṣkṛtinastathā । kastvaṃ bandhurivāsmākamanuśocasi sattama ॥1-13-17॥
O best one, just as the helpless are protected by him, the protector, and the sinners are treated likewise, who are you to lament like a friend for us?
jñātum icchāmahe brahman ko bhavān iha dhiṣṭhitaḥ । kimarthaṃ caiva naḥ śocyān anukampitum arhasi ॥1-13-18॥
We wish to know, O Brahman, who you are and why you are here. You should indeed show compassion to us who are pitiable.
jaratkāruruvāca॥
Jaratkaru spoke.
mama pūrve bhavanto vai pitaraḥ sapitāmahāḥ । brūta kiṃ karavāṇyadya jaratkārurahaṃ svayam ॥1-13-19॥
My ancestors, you who are indeed my fathers and grandfathers, tell me what I, Jaratkaru, should do today.
pitara ūcuḥ॥
The fathers spoke.
yatasva yatnavāṁstāta santānāya kulasya naḥ । ātmano'rthe'smadarthe ca dharma ityeva cābhibho ॥1-13-20॥
O dear, strive diligently for the continuation of our family lineage; for your own benefit, for our collective purpose, and indeed for the sake of duty, O master.
na hi dharmaphalaistāta na tapobhiḥ susañcitaiḥ । tāṃ gatiṃ prāpnuvantīha putriṇo yāṃ vrajanti ha ॥1-13-21॥
O dear, those with sons do not attain that state here by the fruits of righteousness or by well-accumulated austerities, which they indeed go to.
taddāragrahaṇe yatnaṃ santatyāṃ ca manaḥ kuru । putrakāsmanniyogāttvametannaḥ paramaṃ hitam ॥1-13-22॥
O son, make an effort to take a wife and have children; this is our command to you, as it is the greatest benefit for us.
jaratkāruruvāca॥
Jaratkaru spoke.
na dārān vai kariṣyāmi sadā me bhāvitaṃ manaḥ । bhavatāṃ tu hitārthāya kariṣye dārasaṅgraham ॥1-13-23॥
I have always resolved not to take wives, but for your benefit, I will agree to marriage.
samayena ca kartāhamanena vidhipūrvakam । tathā yadyupalapsyāmi kariṣye nānyathā tvaham ॥1-13-24॥
I will act according to the agreement and the rules. If I achieve what I seek, I will proceed as planned, otherwise, I will not act differently.
sanāmnī yā bhavitrī me ditsitā caiva bandhubhiḥ । bhaikṣavattāmahaṃ kanyāmupayaṃsye vidhānataḥ ॥1-13-25॥
The girl, who is named and destined to be mine, given by my relatives, I shall marry her as a mendicant according to the rule.
daridrāya hi me bhāryāṃ ko dāsyati viśeṣataḥ । pratigrahīṣye bhikṣāṃ tu yadi kaścit pradāsyati ॥1-13-26॥
Who would give my wife to a poor man, especially? However, I will accept alms if someone offers.
evaṃ dārakriyāhetoḥ prayatiṣye pitāmahāḥ । anena vidhinā śaśvanna kariṣye'hamanyathā ॥1-13-27॥
Thus, O ancestors, I shall strive for the sake of marriage. By this method, I will never act otherwise.
tatra cotpatsyate jantur bhavatāṃ tāraṇāya vai । śāśvataṃ sthānam āsādya modantāṃ pitaro mama ॥1-13-28॥
There, a being will arise for your deliverance. Upon reaching the eternal abode, may my ancestors find joy.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said.
tato niveśāya tadā sa vipraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ । mahīṃ cacāra dārārthī na ca dārānavindata ॥1-13-29॥
Then, at that time, the sage with firm vows wandered the earth seeking a wife, but he did not find one.
sa kadācid vanaṃ gatvā vipraḥ pitṛvacaḥ smaran । cukrośa kanyābhikṣārthī tisro vācaḥ śanairiva ॥1-13-30॥
Once, the sage went to the forest, remembering his father's words, and slowly cried out three times seeking a maiden in alms.
taṁ vāsukiḥ pratyagṛhṇādudyamya bhaginīṁ tadā । na sa tāṁ pratijagrāha na sanāmnīti cintayan ॥1-13-31॥
Vasuki then accepted him by lifting his sister, but he did not accept her, thinking she was without a name.
sanāmnīmudyatāṃ bhāryāṃ gṛhṇīyāmiti tasya hi । mano niviṣṭamabhavajjaratkārormahātmanaḥ ॥1-13-32॥
The great soul Jaratkaru's mind was indeed settled on taking a wife who was ready and named.
tamuvāca mahāprājño jaratkārurmahātapāḥ । kiṃnāmnī bhaginīyaṃ te brūhi satyaṃ bhujaṅgama ॥1-13-33॥
The great wise Jaratkaru, a great ascetic, said to him: "What is the name of this sister of yours? Tell me the truth, serpent."
vāsukiruvāca॥
Vasuki spoke.
jaratkāro jaratkāruḥ svaseyamanujā mama । tvadarthaṃ rakṣitā pūrvaṃ pratīcchemāṃ dvijottama ॥1-13-34॥
Jaratkaru, this is my younger sister Jaratkaru, who was protected earlier for your sake; please accept her, O best of the twice-born.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said.
mātrā hi bhujagāḥ śaptāḥ pūrvaṃ brahmavidāṃ vara । janamejayasya vo yajñe dhakṣyatyanilasārathiḥ ॥1-13-35॥
The serpents were cursed by their mother long ago, O best among the knowers of Brahman. In Janamejaya's sacrifice, the wind-charioteer will consume you.
tasya śāpasya śāntyarthaṃ pradadau pannagottamaḥ । svasāramṛṣaye tasmai suvratāya tapasvine ॥1-13-36॥
To appease the curse, the best of serpents offered his sister to the virtuous and ascetic sage.
sa ca tāṃ pratijagrāha vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā । āstīko nāma putraśca tasyāṃ jajñe mahātmanaḥ ॥1-13-37॥
He accepted her according to the prescribed rituals, and a son named Āstīka, who was of great soul, was born to her.
tapasvī ca mahātmā ca vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ । samaḥ sarvasya lokasya pitṛmātṛbhayāpahaḥ ॥1-13-38॥
He is an ascetic and a great soul, a knower of the Vedas and Vedangas, who treats everyone equally and removes the fears of parents in the world.
atha kālasya mahataḥ pāṇḍaveyo narādhipaḥ । ājahāra mahāyajñaṃ sarpasatramiti śrutiḥ ॥1-13-39॥
Then, it is heard that the great king, descendant of Pandu, performed the great snake sacrifice.
tasminpravṛtte satre tu sarpāṇāmantakāya vai । mocayāmāsa taṃ śāpamāstīkaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ ॥1-13-40॥
During the sacrifice that had commenced for the destruction of the serpents, the greatly renowned Āstīka released them from the curse.
nāgāṃśca mātulāṃścaiva tathā cānyānsa bāndhavān । pitṝṃśca tārayāmāsa santatyā tapasā tathā ॥ vrataiśca vividhairbrahmansvādhyāyaiścānṛṇo'bhavat ॥1-13-41॥
He liberated his serpents, maternal uncles, and other relatives and ancestors through his progeny and penance. Additionally, he became free from debt by undertaking various vows and self-study, O Brahman.
devāṃśca tarpayāmāsa yajñairvividhadakṣiṇaiḥ । ṛṣīṃśca brahmacaryeṇa santatyā ca pitāmahān ॥1-13-42॥
He offered various sacrificial gifts to satisfy the gods, maintained celibacy and progeny to honor the sages, and revered the ancestors.
apahṛtya guruṃ bhāraṃ pitṝṇāṃ saṃśitavrataḥ । jaratkārurgataḥ svargaṃ sahitaḥ svaiḥ pitāmahaiḥ ॥1-13-43॥
Jaratkaru, having fulfilled his firm vows and relieved the heavy burden of his ancestors, ascended to heaven along with them.
āstīkaṃ ca sutaṃ prāpya dharmaṃ cānuttamaṃ muniḥ । jaratkāruḥ sumahatā kālena svargamīyivān ॥1-13-44॥
The sage Jaratkāru, having been blessed with a son named Āstīka and having fulfilled the highest dharma, eventually departed to heaven after a long life.
etadākhyānamāstīkaṃ yathāvatkīrtitaṃ mayā । prabrūhi bhṛguśārdūla kiṃ bhūyaḥ kathyatāmiti ॥1-13-45॥
This narrative of Āstīka has been recounted by me as it is. Please tell me, O esteemed Bhṛgu, what more should be narrated?
