Mahabharata - Ādi Parva (महाभारत - आदि पर्व)
01.049
Library: With the intention of stopping the snake sacrifice, Astika reaches the entrance of the sacrificial ground.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tata āhūya putraṃ svaṃ jaratkārurbhujaṅgamā। vāsukernāgarājasya vacanādidamabravīt ॥1-49-1॥
Then, Vasuki, the king of serpents, called his own son Jaratkaru and said this to the serpents.
ahaṁ tava pituḥ putra bhrātrā dattā nimittataḥ। kālaḥ sa cāyaṁ samprāptastatkuruṣva yathātatham ॥1-49-2॥
I am your father's son, given by your brother for a reason. The time has come, so act accordingly.
āstīka uvāca॥
Āstīka spoke:
kiṁnimittaṁ mama piturdattā tvaṁ mātulena me। tanmamācakṣva tattvena śrutvā kartāsmi tattathā ॥1-49-3॥
Why were you given to me by my uncle? Please tell me the truth, and after hearing it, I will act accordingly.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tata ācaṣṭa sā tasmai bāndhavānāṃ hitaiṣiṇī। bhaginī nāgarājasya jaratkāruraviklavā ॥1-49-4॥
Then, the sister of the serpent king, Jaratkaru, who was a well-wisher of her relatives, spoke to him without any hesitation.
bhujagānāmaśeṣāṇāṃ mātā kadrūriti śrutiḥ। tayā śaptā ruṣitayā sutā yasmānnibodha tat ॥1-49-5॥
Kadru is known as the mother of all serpents. Understand that her sons were cursed by her in anger for that reason.
ucchaiḥśravāḥ so'śvarājo yanmithyā na kṛto mama. vinatānimittaṃ paṇite dāsabhāvāya putrakāḥ ॥1-49-6॥
Uchchaihshravas, the king of horses, was not falsely claimed by me. He was wagered for servitude due to Vinata's cause, O sons.
janamejayasya vo yajñe dhakṣyaty anilasārathiḥ। tatra pañcatvam āpannāḥ pretalokaṃ gamiṣyatha ॥1-49-7॥
In the sacrifice conducted by Janamejaya, the wind-charioteer will consume you in flames. There, you will meet your end and proceed to the realm of the departed.
tāṃ ca śaptavatīmevaṃ sākṣāllokapitāmahaḥ। evamastviti tadvākyaṃ provācānumumoda ca ॥1-49-8॥
The grandsire of the worlds directly cursed her and approved the statement, saying, "So be it."
vāsukiś cāpi tac chrutvā pitāmaha-vacas tadā। amṛte mathite tāta devāñ śaraṇam īyivān ॥1-49-9॥
Upon hearing the words of the grandfather, Vasuki, when the nectar was churned, sought refuge with the gods, O dear.
siddhārthāśca surāḥ sarve prāpyāmṛtamanuttamam। bhrātaraṃ me puraskṛtya prajāpatimupāgaman ॥1-49-10॥
The gods, having achieved their goals and obtained the unsurpassed nectar of immortality, approached Prajapati with my brother leading them.
te taṃ prasādayāmāsur devāḥ sarve pitāmaham। rājñā vāsukinā sārdhaṃ sa śāpo na bhaved iti ॥1-49-11॥
The gods, along with King Vāsuki, appeased the grandfather so that the curse would not take effect.
vāsukirnāgarājo'yaṃ duḥkhito jñātikāraṇāt। abhiśāpaḥ sa mātrāsya bhagavanna bhavediti ॥1-49-12॥
Vasuki, the king of serpents, is distressed because of his relatives. O Lord, may the curse by his mother not come to pass.
brahmovāca॥
Brahma spoke:
jaratkārurjaratkāruṃ yāṃ bhāryāṃ samavāpsyati| tatra jāto dvijaḥ śāpādbhujagānmokṣayiṣyati ॥1-49-13॥
Jaratkaru will marry a woman named Jaratkaru. Their son, a brahmin, will be born and will liberate the serpents from a curse.
jaratkāruruvāca॥
Jaratkaru spoke:
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ vāsukiḥ pannageśvaraḥ। prādānmāmamaprakhya tava pitre mahātmane ॥1-49-14॥
Upon hearing these words, Vasuki, the king of serpents, bestowed me, akin to the immortals, upon your noble father.
prāgevānāgate kāle tatra tvaṃ mayyajāyathāḥ ॥1-49-14॥
Before the time had arrived, you were already born in me.
ayaṁ sa kālaḥ samprāpto bhayān nas trātum arhasi। bhrātaraṁ caiva me tasmāt trātum arhasi pāvakāt ॥1-49-15॥
This is the time that has come for you to protect us from fear. Therefore, you should also protect my brother from the fire.
amoghaṃ naḥ kṛtaṃ tatsyādyadahaṃ tava dhīmate। pitre dattā vimokṣārthaṃ kathaṃ vā putra manyase ॥1-49-16॥
Our deed is infallible, which I have given to your wise self for the liberation of the father; what do you think, my son?
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
evamuktastathetyuktvā so'stīko mātaraṃ tadā। abravīdduḥkhasantaptaṃ vāsukiṃ jīvayanniva ॥1-49-17॥
Astika, having spoken thus, then addressed his mother, appearing to console the grief-stricken Vasuki.
ahaṁ tvāṁ mokṣayiṣyāmi vāsuke pannagottama। tasmācchāpānmahāsattva satyametadbravīmi te ॥1-49-18॥
I assure you, O Vasuki, the best of serpents, that I will indeed free you from the curse, O great being.
bhava svasthamanā nāga na hi te vidyate bhayam। prayatiṣye tathā saumya yathā śreyo bhaviṣyati ॥1-49-19॥
Be at ease, O serpent, for there is truly no danger for you. I will act in such a way, dear one, that your well-being will be ensured.
na me vāganṛtaṃ prāha svaireṣvapi kuto'nyathā ॥1-49-19॥
My speech is never false, not even in private, so how could it be otherwise?
taṃ vai nṛpavaraṃ gatvā dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam। vāgbhirmaṅgalayuktābhistoṣayiṣye'dya mātula ॥1-49-20॥
Uncle, today I will go to the consecrated King Janamejaya and please him with auspicious words.
yathā sa yajño nṛpaternirvartiṣyati sattama ॥1-49-20॥
O noble one, the king's sacrifice will be conducted as planned.
sa sambhāvaya nāgendra mayi sarvaṃ mahāmate। na te mayi mano jātu mithyā bhavitumarhati ॥1-49-21॥
O lord of serpents, consider all in me, O wise one. Your mind should never be false in me.
vāsukiruvāca॥
Vasuki spoke:
āstīka parighūrṇāmi hṛdayaṃ me vidīryate। diśaśca na prajānāmi brahmadaṇḍanipīḍitaḥ ॥1-49-22॥
O Astika, I am in turmoil, my heart feels like it is breaking. I cannot discern the directions, as I am oppressed by the divine punishment.
āstīka uvāca॥
Āstīka spoke:
na santāpastvayā kāryaḥ kathañcitpannagottama। dīptādagneḥ samutpannaṃ nāśayiṣyāmi te bhayam ॥1-49-23॥
Do not be troubled at all, O best of serpents. I will eliminate your fear that has arisen from the blazing fire.
brahmadaṇḍaṃ mahāghoraṃ kālāgnisamatejasam। nāśayiṣyāmi mātra tvaṃ bhayaṃ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana ॥1-49-24॥
I will destroy the very terrible staff of Brahma, which is as brilliant as the fire of time. You should not fear in any way.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tataḥ sa vāsuker ghoram apanīya manojvaram। ādhāya cātmano'ṅgeṣu jagāma tvarito bhṛśam ॥1-49-25॥
Then he quickly went away, having removed the terrible mental fever of Vāsuki and placed it upon himself.
janamejayasya taṃ yajñaṃ sarvaiḥ samuditaṃ guṇaiḥ| mokṣāya bhujagendrāṇāmāstīko dvijasattamaḥ ॥1-49-26॥
Āstīka, the noble sage, performed the sacrifice of Janamejaya, which was endowed with all virtues, for the liberation of the chief serpents.
sa gatvāpaśyadāstīko yajñāyatanamuttamam। vṛtaṃ sadasyairbahubhiḥ sūryavahnisamaprabhaiḥ ॥1-49-27॥
He went and saw Āstīka at the excellent sacrificial site, which was surrounded by many members who were as brilliant as the sun and fire.
sa tatra vārito dvāḥsthaiḥ praviśandvijasattamaḥ। abhituṣṭāva taṃ yajñaṃ praveśārthī dvijottamaḥ ॥1-49-28॥
The best of the twice-born, having been stopped by the gatekeepers there, praised the sacrifice, seeking entry.

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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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