01.041
Library: Jaratkaru is advised by his ancestors to abandon mindless austerities and to get offspring.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु जरत्कारुर्महातपाः। चचार पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां यत्रसायङ्गृहो मुनिः ॥१-४१-१॥
During this time, the great ascetic Jaratkaru wandered the whole earth, where the sage resided in the evening.
चरन्दीक्षां महातेजा दुश्चरामकृतात्मभिः। तीर्थेष्वाप्लवनं कुर्वन्पुण्येषु विचचार ह ॥१-४१-२॥
The greatly powerful one, wandering in initiation, performed difficult tasks that are hard for those who have not subdued themselves, bathing in holy places and wandering in sacred areas.
वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुष्यन्नहरहर्मुनिः। स ददर्श पितृन्गर्ते लम्बमानानधोमुखान् ॥१-४१-३॥
The sage, who survived on air and abstained from food, saw his ancestors hanging upside down in the pit, drying up day by day.
एकतन्त्ववशिष्टं वै वीरणस्तम्बमाश्रितान्। तं च तन्तुं शनैराखुमाददानं बिलाश्रयम् ॥१-४१-४॥
A single thread remained in the clump of grass, which was slowly taken by a mouse living in its hole.
निराहारान्कृशान्दीनान्गर्तेऽऽर्तांस्त्राणमिच्छतः। उपसृत्य स तान्दीनान्दीनरूपोऽभ्यभाषत ॥१-४१-५॥
He approached the miserable and emaciated ones in the pit who were seeking protection, and in a pitiable form, he spoke to them.
के भवन्तोऽवलम्बन्ते वीरणस्तम्बमाश्रिताः। दुर्बलं खादितैर्मूलैराखुना बिलवासिना ॥१-४१-६॥
Who are you to depend on a reed pillar, weakened by roots eaten by a rat living in a hole?
वीरणस्तम्बके मूलं यदप्येकमिह स्थितम्। तदप्ययं शनैराखुरादत्ते दशनैः शितैः ॥१-४१-७॥
Even though the root of the grass clump is firmly situated here, the rat gradually gnaws it away with its sharp teeth.
छेत्स्यतेऽल्पावशिष्टत्वादेतदप्यचिरादिव। ततः स्थ पतितारोऽत्र गर्ते अस्मिन्नधोमुखाः ॥१-४१-८॥
This will soon be cut off as there is little left. Then you will be the fallen ones here in this pit, face downwards.
ततो मे दुःखमुत्पन्नं दृष्ट्वा युष्मानधोमुखान्। कृच्छ्रामापदमापन्नान्प्रियं किं करवाणि वः ॥१-४१-९॥
Then, seeing you all with downcast faces, having fallen into a difficult situation, my dear ones, what can I do for you?
तपसोऽस्य चतुर्थेन तृतीयेनापि वा पुनः। अर्धेन वापि निस्तर्तुमापदं ब्रूत माचिरम् ॥१-४१-१०॥
Tell me quickly how to overcome the difficulty, whether by a quarter, a third, or even half of his penance.
अथवापि समग्रेण तरन्तु तपसा मम। भवन्तः सर्व एवास्मात्काममेवं विधीयताम् ॥१-४१-११॥
Alternatively, you all may completely overcome this desire through penance, and let it be arranged as such.
पितर ऊचुः॥
The fathers spoke:
ऋद्धो भवान्ब्रह्मचारी यो नस्त्रातुमिहेच्छति। न तु विप्राग्र्य तपसा शक्यमेतद्व्यपोहितुम् ॥१-४१-१२॥
You, who are prosperous and a celibate, wish to protect us here. However, O esteemed sage, this cannot be resolved through penance.
अस्ति नस्तात तपसः फलं प्रवदतां वर। सन्तानप्रक्षयाद्ब्रह्मन्पतामो निरयेऽशुचौ ॥१-४१-१३॥
Dear, there is indeed the fruit of our penance, O esteemed speaker. Due to the loss of progeny, O Brahman, we descend into an impure hell.
लम्बतामिह नस्तात न ज्ञानं प्रतिभाति वै। येन त्वां नाभिजानीमो लोके विख्यातपौरुषम् ॥१-४१-१४॥
Let our stay here be prolonged, father, for we do not recognize you, who are renowned for valor in the world.
ऋद्धो भवान्महाभागो यो नः शोच्यान्सुदुःखितान्। शोचस्युपेत्य कारुण्याच्छृणु ये वै वयं द्विज ॥१-४१-१५॥
O fortunate one, you are prosperous and grieve for us who are very miserable and to be pitied. Having approached us out of compassion, hear who we indeed are, O Brahmin.
यायावरा नाम वयमृषयः संशितव्रताः। लोकात्पुण्यादिह भ्रष्टाः सन्तानप्रक्षयाद्विभो ॥१-४१-१६॥
We, the sages known as wanderers with firm vows, have fallen from the virtuous world due to the loss of progeny, O lord.
प्रनष्टं नस्तपः पुण्यं न हि नस्तन्तुरस्ति वै। अस्ति त्वेकोऽद्य नस्तन्तुः सोऽपि नास्ति यथा तथा ॥१-४१-१७॥
Our penance and virtue have been lost; indeed, our lineage is gone. Today, there is only one remaining of our lineage, and he too is as good as gone.
मन्दभाग्योऽल्पभाग्यानां बन्धुः स किल नः कुले। जरत्कारुरिति ख्यातो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥ नियतात्मा महात्मा च सुव्रतः सुमहातपाः ॥१-४१-१८॥
Jaratkaru, known in our family as a relative of those with little fortune, is indeed a great soul, self-controlled, an expert in Vedas and Vedangas, of good vows, and a great ascetic.
तेन स्म तपसो लोभात्कृच्छ्रमापादिता वयम्। न तस्य भार्या पुत्रो वा बान्धवो वास्ति कश्चन ॥१-४१-१९॥
Due to his greed for penance, we were indeed brought into hardship by him. He has no wife, son, or any relative.
तस्माल्लम्बामहे गर्ते नष्टसञ्ज्ञा ह्यनाथवत्। स वक्तव्यस्त्वया दृष्ट्वा अस्माकं नाथवत्तया ॥१-४१-२०॥
Therefore, we are left hanging in the pit, unconscious and helpless like orphans. You must inform him, having seen our need for protection.
पितरस्तेऽवलम्बन्ते गर्ते दीना अधोमुखाः। साधु दारान्कुरुष्वेति प्रजायस्वेति चाभिभो ॥ कुलतन्तुर्हि नः शिष्टस्त्वमेवैकस्तपोधन ॥१-४१-२१॥
Your ancestors are suffering in the pit, looking miserable and downward. They urge you to marry and procreate to continue the family line, as you are the only one left, O revered sage.
यं तु पश्यसि नो ब्रह्मन्वीरणस्तम्बमाश्रितान्। एषोऽस्माकं कुलस्तम्ब आसीत्स्वकुलवर्धनः ॥१-४१-२२॥
O Brahman, the one you see leaning against a bundle of reeds was once the pillar of our family, enhancing its lineage.
यानि पश्यसि वै ब्रह्मन्मूलानीहास्य वीरुधः। एते नस्तन्तवस्तात कालेन परिभक्षिताः ॥१-४१-२३॥
O Brahman, the roots of these plants you see here are indeed our threads, dear one, and they have been consumed by time.
यत्त्वेतत्पश्यसि ब्रह्मन्मूलमस्यार्धभक्षितम्। तत्र लम्बामहे सर्वे सोऽप्येकस्तप आस्थितः ॥१-४१-२४॥
O Brahman, what you see is the root of this tree, half-eaten. We all hang there, and he too is engaged in penance.
यमाखुं पश्यसि ब्रह्मन्काल एष महाबलः। स तं तपोरतं मन्दं शनैः क्षपयते तुदन् ॥ जरत्कारुं तपोलुब्धं मन्दात्मानमचेतसम् ॥१-४१-२५॥
O Brahman, whom you see is the powerful time. He gradually destroys the slow and unconscious Jaratkaru, who is engaged in austerity and desirous of it.
न हि नस्तत्तपस्तस्य तारयिष्यति सत्तम। छिन्नमूलान्परिभ्रष्टान्कालोपहतचेतसः ॥ नरकप्रतिष्ठान्पश्यास्मान्यथा दुष्कृतिनस्तथा ॥१-४१-२६॥
O virtuous one, that penance of his will not save us, as we are uprooted, fallen, and our minds are afflicted by time, established in hell, see us as sinners.
अस्मासु पतितेष्वत्र सह पूर्वैः पितामहैः। छिन्नः कालेन सोऽप्यत्र गन्ता वै नरकं ततः ॥१-४१-२७॥
Here, among us who have fallen with our ancestors and grandfathers, he too, cut off by time, will indeed go to hell from here.
तपो वाप्यथवा यज्ञो यच्चान्यत्पावनं महत्। तत्सर्वं न समं तात सन्तत्येति सतां मतम् ॥१-४१-२८॥
Austerity, sacrifice, or any other great purifying act is not considered equal to continuity, dear one, according to the opinion of the wise.
स तात दृष्ट्वा ब्रूयास्त्वं जरत्कारुं तपस्विनम्। यथादृष्टमिदं चास्मै त्वयाख्येयमशेषतः ॥१-४१-२९॥
O father, after seeing, you should tell the ascetic Jaratkaru everything you have seen, completely and without omission.
यथा दारान्प्रकुर्यात्स पुत्रांश्चोत्पादयेद्यथा। तथा ब्रह्मंस्त्वया वाच्यः सोऽस्माकं नाथवत्तया ॥१-४१-३०॥
Just as one should establish a family by marrying and having children, similarly, O Brahman, you should refer to him as our protector through her.
