01.043
Library: Jaratkaru takes leave of Jaratkaru on a pretext, but promises a great progeny.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
वासुकिस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं जरत्कारुमृषिं तदा। सनामा तव कन्येयं स्वसा मे तपसान्विता ॥१-४३-१॥
Vasuki then spoke to the sage Jaratkaru, saying, 'This girl, who is named, is your daughter and my sister, endowed with penance.'
भरिष्यामि च ते भार्यां प्रतीच्छेमां द्विजोत्तम। रक्षणं च करिष्येऽस्याः सर्वशक्त्या तपोधन ॥१-४३-२॥
I will take care of your wife, please accept her, O noble Brahmin. I will protect her with all my strength, O sage rich in penance.
प्रतिश्रुते तु नागेन भरिष्ये भगिनीमिति। जरत्कारुस्तदा वेश्म भुजगस्य जगाम ह ॥१-४३-३॥
Jaratkaru, having been promised by the serpent that he would support his sister, then went to the serpent's house.
तत्र मन्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठस्तपोवृद्धो महाव्रतः। जग्राह पाणिं धर्मात्मा विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ॥१-४३-४॥
There, the noble sage, esteemed among those who know mantras, matured in his ascetic practices and committed to great vows, righteously took the hand in marriage, following the sacred rituals.
ततो वासगृहं शुभ्रं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य संमतम्। जगाम भार्यामादाय स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ॥१-४३-५॥
Then, taking his wife, he proceeded to the pure and esteemed abode of the serpent king, while being praised by the great sages.
शयनं तत्र वै कॢप्तं स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृतम्। तत्र भार्यासहायः स जरत्कारुरुवास ह ॥१-४३-६॥
Jaratkaru lived there with his wife, in a bed that was splendidly arranged and covered, enjoying their companionship.
स तत्र समयं चक्रे भार्यया सह सत्तमः। विप्रियं मे न कर्तव्यं न च वाच्यं कदाचन ॥१-४३-७॥
The noble man made a pact with his wife that nothing unpleasant should ever be done or said to him.
त्यजेयमप्रिये हि त्वां कृते वासं च ते गृहे। एतद्गृहाण वचनं मया यत्समुदीरितम् ॥१-४३-८॥
I would indeed abandon you, O unpleasing one, for the sake of living in your house. Please accept these words spoken by me.
ततः परमसंविग्ना स्वसा नागपतेस्तु सा। अतिदुःखान्विता वाचं तमुवाचैवमस्त्विति ॥१-४३-९॥
Then, the sister of the lord of serpents, deeply troubled and overwhelmed with grief, spoke to him, saying, "Let it be so."
तथैव सा च भर्तारं दुःखशीलमुपाचरत्। उपायैः श्वेतकाकीयैः प्रियकामा यशस्विनी ॥१-४३-१०॥
In the same manner, the glorious lady, desiring affection, served her sorrowful-natured husband with strategies akin to the white crow.
ऋतुकाले ततः स्नाता कदाचिद्वासुकेः स्वसा। भर्तारं तं यथान्यायमुपतस्थे महामुनिम् ॥१-४३-११॥
Once, during the appropriate season, Vāsuki's sister, having bathed, approached her husband, the great sage, in accordance with tradition.
तत्र तस्याः समभवद्गर्भो ज्वलनसंनिभः। अतीव तपसा युक्तो वैश्वानरसमद्युतिः ॥ शुक्लपक्षे यथा सोमो व्यवर्धत तथैव सः ॥१-४३-१२॥
There, her embryo was born, resembling fire, and was extremely endowed with penance, shining like Agni. Just as the moon grows in the bright fortnight, so did he.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य जरत्कारुर्महातपाः। उत्सङ्गेऽस्याः शिरः कृत्वा सुष्वाप परिखिन्नवत् ॥१-४३-१३॥
After a few days, the great sage Jaratkaru, weary and tired, rested his head on her lap and fell asleep.
तस्मिंश्च सुप्ते विप्रेन्द्रे सवितास्तमियाद्गिरिम्। अह्नः परिक्षये ब्रह्मंस्ततः साचिन्तयत्तदा ॥ वासुकेर्भगिनी भीता धर्मलोपान्मनस्विनी ॥१-४३-१४॥
When the revered Brahmin was asleep, the sun set behind the mountain. At the end of the day, she, the wise sister of Vasuki, contemplated, fearing the decline of righteousness.
किं नु मे सुकृतं भूयाद्भर्तुरुत्थापनं न वा। दुःखशीलो हि धर्मात्मा कथं नास्यापराध्नुयाम् ॥१-४३-१५॥
What indeed is my good deed, whether it be the raising of my husband or not? How could I not offend this sorrowful and righteous soul?
कोपो वा धर्मशीलस्य धर्मलोपोऽथ वा पुनः। धर्मलोपो गरीयान्वै स्यादत्रेत्यकरोन्मनः ॥१-४३-१६॥
The anger or loss of righteousness in a virtuous person, or again, the loss of righteousness, may indeed be considered more significant here, thus affecting the mind.
उत्थापयिष्ये यद्येनं ध्रुवं कोपं करिष्यति। धर्मलोपो भवेदस्य सन्ध्यातिक्रमणे ध्रुवम् ॥१-४३-१७॥
I will raise him if he certainly becomes angry. His transgression of twilight would certainly lead to a loss of dharma.
इति निश्चित्य मनसा जरत्कारुर्भुजङ्गमा। तमृषिं दीप्ततपसं शयानमनलोपमम् ॥ उवाचेदं वचः श्लक्ष्णं ततो मधुरभाषिणी ॥१-४३-१८॥
Having made up her mind, Jaratkaru, the serpent, addressed the sage, who was lying there with a blazing penance, like fire, with gentle and sweet words.
उत्तिष्ठ त्वं महाभाग सूर्योऽस्तमुपगच्छति। सन्ध्यामुपास्स्व भगवन्नपः स्पृष्ट्वा यतव्रतः ॥१-४३-१९॥
Arise, O great one, the sun is setting. Worship the twilight, O revered sage, after touching water, steadfast in your vows.
प्रादुष्कृताग्निहोत्रोऽयं मुहूर्तो रम्यदारुणः। सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते चेयं पश्चिमायां दिशि प्रभो ॥१-४३-२०॥
The sacrificial fire has been completed, and this moment is both beautiful and fierce. The twilight is beginning in the western direction, O lord.
एवमुक्तः स भगवाञ्जरत्कारुर्महातपाः। भार्यां प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठ इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-४३-२१॥
Thus addressed, the venerable sage Jaratkaru, known for his great asceticism, spoke to his wife with trembling lips.
अवमानः प्रयुक्तोऽयं त्वया मम भुजङ्गमे। समीपे ते न वत्स्यामि गमिष्यामि यथागतम् ॥१-४३-२२॥
You have insulted me, my serpent. I will not stay near you; I will return the way I came.
न हि तेजोऽस्ति वामोरु मयि सुप्ते विभावसोः। अस्तं गन्तुं यथाकालमिति मे हृदि वर्तते ॥१-४३-२३॥
O beautiful-thighed one, indeed, there is no light in me when I am asleep, as the sun sets in its due time, this thought exists in my heart.
न चाप्यवमतस्येह वस्तुं रोचेत कस्यचित्। किं पुनर्धर्मशीलस्य मम वा मद्विधस्य वा ॥१-४३-२४॥
And here, no one would like to dwell if they are disrespected; let alone a virtuous person, myself, or someone like me.
एवमुक्ता जरत्कारुर्भर्त्रा हृदयकम्पनम्। अब्रवीद्भगिनी तत्र वासुकेः संनिवेशने ॥१-४३-२५॥
Upon being addressed by her husband Jaratkaru, whose heart was trembling, the sister spoke in the abode of Vasuki.
नावमानात्कृतवती तवाहं प्रतिबोधनम्। धर्मलोपो न ते विप्र स्यादित्येतत्कृतं मया ॥१-४३-२६॥
I have awakened you out of disrespect so that you do not suffer a loss of dharma, O wise one. This is why I have done it.
उवाच भार्यामित्युक्तो जरत्कारुर्महातपाः। ऋषिः कोपसमाविष्टस्त्यक्तुकामो भुजङ्गमाम् ॥१-४३-२७॥
The sage Jaratkaru, in great anger, spoke to his wife, the serpent-woman, expressing his desire to leave her.
न मे वागनृतं प्राह गमिष्येऽहं भुजङ्गमे। समयो ह्येष मे पूर्वं त्वया सह मिथः कृतः ॥१-४३-२८॥
I assure you, O serpent, my words are true; I will go as promised. This agreement was indeed made between us earlier.
सुखमस्म्युषितो भद्रे ब्रूयास्त्वं भ्रातरं शुभे। इतो मयि गते भीरु गतः स भगवानिति ॥ त्वं चापि मयि निष्क्रान्ते न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१-४३-२९॥
I have stayed happily, O gentle one, you should tell your brother, O auspicious one. When I have left from here, O timid one, the Lord has also departed. You too, even when I have gone, should not grieve.
इत्युक्ता सानवद्याङ्गी प्रत्युवाच पतिं तदा। जरत्कारुं जरत्कारुश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणा ॥१-४३-३०॥
Thus addressed, the faultless-bodied lady replied to her husband Jaratkaru, who was absorbed in anxiety and sorrow.
बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा मुखेन परिशुष्यता। कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा पर्यश्रुनयना ततः ॥ धैर्यमालम्ब्य वामोरूर्हृदयेन प्रवेपता ॥१-४३-३१॥
The beautiful lady, with her voice choked with tears and her face drying up, stood with joined palms and eyes full of tears. Then, gathering her courage, she stood with her beautiful thighs trembling and her heart shaking.
न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परित्यक्तुमनागसम्। धर्मे स्थितां स्थितो धर्मे सदा प्रियहिते रताम् ॥१-४३-३२॥
You should not abandon me, O knower of dharma, as I am innocent and always devoted to righteousness and the welfare of others.
प्रदाने कारणं यच्च मम तुभ्यं द्विजोत्तम। तदलब्धवतीं मन्दां किं मां वक्ष्यति वासुखिः ॥१-४३-३३॥
O best of the twice-born, what will Vasuki say to me for not obtaining that which was my reason for giving to you?
मातृशापाभिभूतानां ज्ञातीनां मम सत्तम। अपत्यमीप्षितं त्वत्तस्तच्च तावन्न दृश्यते ॥१-४३-३४॥
O virtuous one, my relatives, who are overcome by a mother's curse, have not yet seen the desired offspring from you.
त्वत्तो ह्यपत्यलाभेन ज्ञातीनां मे शिवं भवेत्। सम्प्रयोगो भवेन्नायं मम मोघस्त्वया द्विज ॥१-४३-३५॥
Indeed, by obtaining offspring from you, my relatives will find welfare. Let this union with you, O Brahmin, not be in vain.
ज्ञातीनां हितमिच्छन्ती भगवंस्त्वां प्रसादये। इममव्यक्तरूपं मे गर्भमाधाय सत्तम ॥ कथं त्यक्त्वा महात्मा सन्गन्तुमिच्छस्यनागसम् ॥१-४३-३६॥
O Lord, desiring the welfare of my relatives, I beseech you. Having placed this unmanifest form in my womb, O noble one, how can you, being a great soul, wish to abandon me and go to the innocent?
एवमुक्तस्तु स मुनिर्भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत्। यद्युक्तमनुरूपं च जरत्कारुस्तपोधनः ॥१-४३-३७॥
Thus addressed, the sage spoke to his wife: "If it is appropriate and suitable, Jaratkaru, the ascetic."
अस्त्येष गर्भः सुभगे तव वैश्वानरोपमः। ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥१-४३-३८॥
O fortunate one, within you is an embryo comparable to Agni, a sage of supreme righteousness who has mastered the Vedas and Vedangas.
एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा जरत्कारुर्महानृषिः। उग्राय तपसे भूयो जगाम कृतनिश्चयः ॥१-४३-३९॥
After speaking thus, the righteous sage Jaratkaru, with firm determination, went again to perform intense penance.
