Mahabharata - Ādi Parva (महाभारत - आदि पर्व)
01.034
Library: As per Brahma’s word, Jaratkaru will marry Jaratkaru, Vasuki’s sister to beget Astika, who will free snakes from the curse.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
śrutvā tu vacanaṃ teṣāṃ sarveṣāmiti ceti ca। vāsukeśca vacaḥ śrutvā elāpatro'bravīdidam ॥1-34-1॥
Elāpatra, having listened to the words of everyone and also to Vāsuki's words, spoke as follows.
na sa yajño na bhavitā na sa rājā tathāvidhaḥ। janamejayaḥ pāṇḍaveyo yato'smākaṃ mahābhayam ॥1-34-2॥
He is neither the sacrifice nor the king as such. It is Janamejaya, the descendant of Pandu, from whom our great fear arises.
daivenopahato rājanyo bhaved iha puruṣaḥ। sa daivam evāśrayate nānyat tatra parāyaṇam ॥1-34-3॥
When afflicted by fate, a Kshatriya here becomes just a man. He relies solely on fate, finding no other refuge or shelter there.
tadidaṁ daivamasmākaṁ bhayaṁ pannagasattamāḥ। daivamevāśrayāmo'tra śṛṇudhvaṁ ca vaco mama ॥1-34-4॥
This divine fear is ours, O best of serpents. Here, we take refuge only in the divine, so listen to my words.
ahaṁ śāpe samutsṛṣṭe samaśrauṣaṁ vacastadā। māturutsaṅgamārūḍho bhayātpannagasattamāḥ ॥1-34-5॥
O best of serpents, I heard those words when the curse was released, while I was sitting on my mother's lap out of fear.
devānāṃ pannagaśreṣṭhāstīkṣṇāstīkṣṇā iti prabho। pitāmahamupāgamya duḥkhārtānāṃ mahādyute ॥1-34-6॥
O lord, the best among the serpents of the gods are indeed sharp. Having approached the grandsire, they are distressed, O great effulgence.
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods spoke:
kā hi labdhvā priyānputrāñśapedevaṃ pitāmahaḥ। ṛte kadrūṃ tīkṣṇarūpāṃ devadeva tavāgrataḥ ॥1-34-7॥
Who, having obtained beloved sons, would curse in such a manner, O grandfather, except for Kadrū, who is fierce in form, O lord of lords, in your presence?
tatheti ca vacastasyāstvayāpyuktaṃ pitāmahaḥ। etadicchāma vijñātuṃ kāraṇaṃ yanna vāritā ॥1-34-8॥
Thus, grandfather, you also spoke her words. We wish to know the reason why it was not stopped.
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
bahavaḥ pannagāstīkṣṇā bhīmavīryā viṣolbaṇāḥ। prajānāṃ hitakāmo'haṃ na nivāritavāṃstadā ॥1-34-9॥
There were many fierce serpents with terrible strength and full of poison. For the welfare of the people, I did not restrain them at that time.
ye dandaśūkāḥ kṣudrāśca pāpacārā viṣolbaṇāḥ। teṣāṃ vināśo bhavitā na tu ye dharmacāriṇaḥ ॥1-34-10॥
The destruction will come to those who are like serpents, mean, evil-doers, and venomous, but not to those who follow righteousness.
yannimittaṃ ca bhavitā mokṣasteṣāṃ mahābhayāt| pannagānāṃ nibodhadhvaṃ tasminkāle tathāgate ॥1-34-11॥
Understand the reason that will bring liberation from great fear to the serpents at the time when the Tathagata (Buddha) arrives.
yāyāvarakule dhīmānbhaviṣyati mahānṛṣiḥ। jaratkāruriti khyātastejasvī niyatendriyaḥ ॥1-34-12॥
In the family of wanderers, there will be a wise and great sage named Jaratkaru, who will be known for his brilliance and self-control.
tasya putro jaratkārorutpatsyati mahātapāḥ। āstīko nāma yajñaṃ sa pratiṣetsyati taṃ tadā ॥ tatra mokṣyanti bhujagā ye bhaviṣyanti dhārmikāḥ ॥1-34-13॥
A great ascetic named Āstīka will be born as the son of Jaratkāru. He will then stop that sacrifice, and the righteous serpents will be freed.
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods spoke:
sa munipravaro deva jaratkārurmahātapāḥ। kasyāṃ putraṃ mahātmānaṃ janayiṣyati vīryavān ॥1-34-14॥
The great sage Jaratkaru, known for his intense penance, will beget a powerful and noble son. In whom will this occur, O divine one?
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
sanāmāyāṃ sanāmā sa kanyāyāṃ dvijasattamaḥ। apatyaṃ vīryavāndevā vīryavajjaniṣyati ॥1-34-15॥
O best of the twice-born, in the maiden named Sanama, a powerful offspring will be begotten by the powerful god.
elāpatra uvāca॥
Elapatra spoke:
evam astv iti taṃ devāḥ pitāmaham athābruvan। uktvā caivaṃ gatā devāḥ sa ca devaḥ pitāmahaḥ ॥1-34-16॥
The gods said to the grandfather, "So be it." After saying this, the gods departed, and the god, the grandfather, remained.
so'ham evaṃ prapaśyāmi vāsuke bhaginīṃ tava। jaratkārur iti khyātāṃ tāṃ tasmai pratipādaya ॥1-34-17॥
Thus, I see, O Vāsuki, your sister known as Jaratkāru; give her to him.
bhaikṣavadbhikṣamāṇāya nāgānāṃ bhayaśāntaye। ṛṣaye suvratāya tvameṣa mokṣaḥ śruto mayā ॥1-34-18॥
I have heard this liberation, like a beggar to the one begging, for the pacification of the serpents' fear, to the sage of good vows, you.

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ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय। ॐ शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति: ॥ - बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् 1.3.28
"Ōm! Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. Let there be peace, peace, and peace. Ōm!" - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28

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