01.043
Library: Jaratkaru takes leave of Jaratkaru on a pretext, but promises a great progeny.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
vāsukistvabravīdvākyaṃ jaratkārumṛṣiṃ tadā। sanāmā tava kanyeyaṃ svasā me tapasānvitā ॥1-43-1॥
Vasuki then spoke to the sage Jaratkaru, saying, 'This girl, who is named, is your daughter and my sister, endowed with penance.'
bhariṣyāmi ca te bhāryāṃ pratīcchemāṃ dvijottama। rakṣaṇaṃ ca kariṣye'syāḥ sarvaśaktyā tapodhana ॥1-43-2॥
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.
pratiśrute tu nāgena bhariṣye bhaginīmiti। jaratkārustadā veśma bhujagasya jagāma ha ॥1-43-3॥
Jaratkaru, having been promised by the serpent that he would support his sister, then went to the serpent's house.
tatra mantravidāṃ śreṣṭhastapovṛddho mahāvrataḥ। jagrāha pāṇiṃ dharmātmā vidhimantrapuraskṛtam ॥1-43-4॥
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.
tato vāsagṛhaṃ śubhraṃ pannagendrasya saṃmatam। jagāma bhāryāmādāya stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ ॥1-43-5॥
Then, taking his wife, he proceeded to the pure and esteemed abode of the serpent king, while being praised by the great sages.
śayanaṃ tatra vai kḷptaṃ spardhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛtam| tatra bhāryāsahāyaḥ sa jaratkāruruvāsa ha ॥1-43-6॥
Jaratkaru lived there with his wife, in a bed that was splendidly arranged and covered, enjoying their companionship.
sa tatra samayaṁ cakre bhāryayā saha sattamaḥ। vipriyaṁ me na kartavyaṁ na ca vācyaṁ kadācana ॥1-43-7॥
The noble man made a pact with his wife that nothing unpleasant should ever be done or said to him.
tyajeyamapriye hi tvāṃ kṛte vāsaṃ ca te gṛhe| etadgṛhāṇa vacanaṃ mayā yatsamudīritam ॥1-43-8॥
I would indeed abandon you, O unpleasing one, for the sake of living in your house. Please accept these words spoken by me.
tataḥ paramasaṁvignā svasā nāgapates tu sā। atiduḥkhānvitā vācaṁ tam uvācāivam astv iti ॥1-43-9॥
Then, the sister of the lord of serpents, deeply troubled and overwhelmed with grief, spoke to him, saying, "Let it be so."
tathaiva sā ca bhartāraṃ duḥkhaśīlamupācarat। upāyaiḥ śvetakākīyaiḥ priyakāmā yaśasvinī ॥1-43-10॥
In the same manner, the glorious lady, desiring affection, served her sorrowful-natured husband with strategies akin to the white crow.
ṛtukāle tataḥ snātā kadācidvāsukeḥ svasā। bhartāraṃ taṃ yathānyāyamupatasthe mahāmunim ॥1-43-11॥
Once, during the appropriate season, Vāsuki's sister, having bathed, approached her husband, the great sage, in accordance with tradition.
tatra tasyāḥ samabhavadgarbho jvalanasaṃnibhaḥ। atīva tapasā yukto vaiśvānarasamadyutiḥ ॥ śuklapakṣe yathā somo vyavardhata tathaiva saḥ ॥1-43-12॥
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.
tataḥ katipayāhasya jaratkārurmahātapāḥ। utsaṅge'syāḥ śiraḥ kṛtvā suṣvāpa parikhinnavat ॥1-43-13॥
After a few days, the great sage Jaratkaru, weary and tired, rested his head on her lap and fell asleep.
tasmiṁśca supte viprendre savitāstamiyādgirim। ahnaḥ parikṣaye brahmaṁstataḥ sācintayattadā ॥ vāsukerbhaginī bhītā dharmalopānmanasvinī ॥1-43-14॥
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.
kiṁ nu me sukṛtaṁ bhūyādbharturutthāpanaṁ na vā। duḥkhaśīlo hi dharmātmā kathaṁ nāsyāparādhnuyām ॥1-43-15॥
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?
kopo vā dharmaśīlasya dharmalopo'tha vā punaḥ। dharmalopo garīyānvai syādatretyakaronmanaḥ ॥1-43-16॥
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.
utthāpayiṣye yadyenaṃ dhruvaṃ kopaṃ kariṣyati। dharmalopo bhavedasya sandhyātikramaṇe dhruvam ॥1-43-17॥
I will raise him if he certainly becomes angry. His transgression of twilight would certainly lead to a loss of dharma.
iti niścitya manasā jaratkārurbhujaṅgamā. tamṛṣiṃ dīptatapasaṃ śayānamanalopamam .. uvācedaṃ vacaḥ ślakṣṇaṃ tato madhurabhāṣiṇī ..1-43-18..
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.
uttiṣṭha tvaṃ mahābhāga sūryo'stamupagacchati| sandhyāmupāssva bhagavannapaḥ spṛṣṭvā yatavrataḥ ॥1-43-19॥
Arise, O great one, the sun is setting. Worship the twilight, O revered sage, after touching water, steadfast in your vows.
prāduṣkṛtāgnihotro'yaṃ muhūrto ramyadāruṇaḥ। sandhyā pravartate ceyaṃ paścimāyāṃ diśi prabho ॥1-43-20॥
The sacrificial fire has been completed, and this moment is both beautiful and fierce. The twilight is beginning in the western direction, O lord.
evamuktaḥ sa bhagavāñjaratkārurmahātapāḥ। bhāryāṃ prasphuramaṇoṣṭha idaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥1-43-21॥
Thus addressed, the venerable sage Jaratkaru, known for his great asceticism, spoke to his wife with trembling lips.
avamānaḥ prayukto'yaṃ tvayā mama bhujaṅgame। samīpe te na vatsyāmi gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam ॥1-43-22॥
You have insulted me, my serpent. I will not stay near you; I will return the way I came.
na hi tejo'sti vāmoru mayi supte vibhāvasoḥ। astaṃ gantuṃ yathākālamiti me hṛdi vartate ॥1-43-23॥
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.
na cāpyavamatasyeha vastuṃ roceta kasyacit। kiṃ punardharmaśīlasya mama vā madvidhasya vā ॥1-43-24॥
And here, no one would like to dwell if they are disrespected; let alone a virtuous person, myself, or someone like me.
evamuktā jaratkārurbhartrā hṛdayakampanam। abravīdbhaginī tatra vāsukeḥ saṃniveśane ॥1-43-25॥
Upon being addressed by her husband Jaratkaru, whose heart was trembling, the sister spoke in the abode of Vasuki.
nāvamānātkṛtavatī tavāhaṃ pratibodhanam। dharmalopo na te vipra syādityetatkṛtaṃ mayā ॥1-43-26॥
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.
uvāca bhāryāmityukto jaratkārurmahātapāḥ। ṛṣiḥ kopasamāviṣṭastyaktukāmo bhujaṅgamām ॥1-43-27॥
The sage Jaratkaru, in great anger, spoke to his wife, the serpent-woman, expressing his desire to leave her.
na me vāganṛtaṃ prāha gamiṣye'haṃ bhujaṅgame। samayo hyeṣa me pūrvaṃ tvayā saha mithaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥1-43-28॥
I assure you, O serpent, my words are true; I will go as promised. This agreement was indeed made between us earlier.
sukham asmi uṣito bhadre brūyās tvaṃ bhrātaraṃ śubhe। ito mayi gate bhīru gataḥ sa bhagavān iti॥ tvaṃ cāpi mayi niṣkrānte na śokaṃ kartum arhasi॥1-43-29॥
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.
ityuktā sānavadyāṅgī pratyuvāca patiṃ tadā. jaratkāruṃ jaratkāruścintāśokaparāyaṇā ॥1-43-30॥
Thus addressed, the faultless-bodied lady replied to her husband Jaratkaru, who was absorbed in anxiety and sorrow.
bāṣpagadgadayā vācā mukhena pariśuṣyatā। kṛtāñjalirvarārohā paryaśrunayanā tataḥ ॥ dhairyamālambya vāmorūrhṛdayena pravepatā ॥1-43-31॥
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.
na mām arhasi dharmajña parityaktum anāgasam। dharme sthitāṃ sthito dharme sadā priyahite ratām ॥1-43-32॥
You should not abandon me, O knower of dharma, as I am innocent and always devoted to righteousness and the welfare of others.
pradāne kāraṇaṃ yacca mama tubhyaṃ dvijottama। tadalabdhavatīṃ mandāṃ kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati vāsukhiḥ ॥1-43-33॥
O best of the twice-born, what will Vasuki say to me for not obtaining that which was my reason for giving to you?
mātṛśāpābhibhūtānāṃ jñātīnāṃ mama sattama। apatyamīpṣitaṃ tvattastacca tāvanna dṛśyate ॥1-43-34॥
O virtuous one, my relatives, who are overcome by a mother's curse, have not yet seen the desired offspring from you.
tvatto hyapatyalābhena jñātīnāṃ me śivaṃ bhavet। samprayogo bhavennāyaṃ mama moghastvayā dvija ॥1-43-35॥
Indeed, by obtaining offspring from you, my relatives will find welfare. Let this union with you, O Brahmin, not be in vain.
jñātīnāṃ hitamicchantī bhagavaṃstvāṃ prasādaye। imamavyaktarūpaṃ me garbhamādhāya sattama ॥ kathaṃ tyaktvā mahātmā saṅgantumicchasyanāgasam ॥1-43-36॥
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?
evamuktastu sa munirbhāryāṃ vacanamabravīt। yadyuktamanurūpaṃ ca jaratkārustapodhanaḥ ॥1-43-37॥
Thus addressed, the sage spoke to his wife: "If it is appropriate and suitable, Jaratkaru, the ascetic."
astyeṣa garbhaḥ subhage tava vaiśvānaropamaḥ। ṛṣiḥ paramadharmātmā vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ ॥1-43-38॥
O fortunate one, within you is an embryo comparable to Agni, a sage of supreme righteousness who has mastered the Vedas and Vedangas.
evamuktvā sa dharmātmā jaratkārurmahānṛṣiḥ। ugrāya tapase bhūyo jagāma kṛtaniścayaḥ ॥1-43-39॥
After speaking thus, the righteous sage Jaratkaru, with firm determination, went again to perform intense penance.
