01.041
Library: Jaratkaru is advised by his ancestors to abandon mindless austerities and to get offspring.
Sūta said:
During this time, the great ascetic Jaratkaru wandered the whole earth, where the sage resided in the evening.
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.
The sage, who survived on air and abstained from food, saw his ancestors hanging upside down in the pit, drying up day by day.
A single thread remained in the clump of grass, which was slowly taken by a mouse living in its hole.
He approached the miserable and emaciated ones in the pit who were seeking protection, and in a pitiable form, he spoke to them.
Who are you to depend on a reed pillar, weakened by roots eaten by a rat living in a hole?
Even though the root of the grass clump is firmly situated here, the rat gradually gnaws it away with its sharp teeth.
This will soon be cut off as there is little left. Then you will be the fallen ones here in this pit, face downwards.
Then, seeing you all with downcast faces, having fallen into a difficult situation, my dear ones, what can I do for you?
Tell me quickly how to overcome the difficulty, whether by a quarter, a third, or even half of his penance.
Alternatively, you all may completely overcome this desire through penance, and let it be arranged as such.
The fathers spoke:
You, who are prosperous and a celibate, wish to protect us here. However, O esteemed sage, this cannot be resolved through penance.
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.
Let our stay here be prolonged, father, for we do not recognize you, who are renowned for valor in the world.
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.
We, the sages known as wanderers with firm vows, have fallen from the virtuous world due to the loss of progeny, O lord.
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.
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.
Due to his greed for penance, we were indeed brought into hardship by him. He has no wife, son, or any relative.
Therefore, we are left hanging in the pit, unconscious and helpless like orphans. You must inform him, having seen our need for protection.
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.
O Brahman, the one you see leaning against a bundle of reeds was once the pillar of our family, enhancing its lineage.
O Brahman, the roots of these plants you see here are indeed our threads, dear one, and they have been consumed by time.
O Brahman, what you see is the root of this tree, half-eaten. We all hang there, and he too is engaged in penance.
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.
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.
Here, among us who have fallen with our ancestors and grandfathers, he too, cut off by time, will indeed go to hell from here.
Austerity, sacrifice, or any other great purifying act is not considered equal to continuity, dear one, according to the opinion of the wise.
O father, after seeing, you should tell the ascetic Jaratkaru everything you have seen, completely and without omission.
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.
