01.221
Pancharatra: Struggle of Jarita and her four offspring.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः प्रज्वलिते शुक्रे शार्ङ्गकास्ते सुदुःखिताः। व्यथिताः परमोद्विग्ना नाधिजग्मुः परायणम् ॥१-२२१-१॥
Then, when Śukra was ignited, the Śārṅgakas, greatly afflicted and deeply distressed, could not find any refuge. (1-221-1)
निशाम्य पुत्रकान्बालान्माता तेषां तपस्विनी। जरिता दुःखसन्तप्ता विललाप नरेश्वर ॥१-२२१-२॥
O king, upon hearing her sons, the ascetic mother Jarita, overwhelmed with sorrow, began to lament. (1-221-2)
अयमग्निर्दहन्कक्षमित आयाति भीषणः। जगत्संदीपयन्भीमो मम दुःखविवर्धनः ॥१-२२१-३॥
This terrible fire, having reached the forest, comes burning; it inflames the world, and fearsomely increases my sorrow. (1-221-3)
इमे च मां कर्षयन्ति शिशवो मन्दचेतसः। अबर्हाश्चरणैर्हीनाः पूर्वेषां नः परायणम् ॥ त्रासयंश्चायमायाति लेलिहानो महीरुहान् ॥१-२२१-४॥
These dull-minded children drag me; unworthy, deprived of the feet, the refuge of our ancestors; and this one comes frightening, licking the trees. (1-221-4)
अशक्तिमत्त्वाच्च सुता न शक्ताः सरणे मम। आदाय च न शक्तास्मि पुत्रान्सरितुमन्यतः ॥१-२२१-५॥
Because of incapacity, my sons are not able to move; nor am I able to take my sons and move them elsewhere. (1-221-5)
न च त्यक्तुमहं शक्ता हृदयं दूयतीव मे। कं नु जह्यामहं पुत्रं कमादाय व्रजाम्यहम् ॥१-२२१-६॥
And I am not able to abandon; my heart feels as if it is pained. Whom indeed should I abandon, my son? Whom should I take and go? (1-221-6)
किं नु मे स्यात्कृतं कृत्वा मन्यध्वं पुत्रकाः कथम्। चिन्तयाना विमोक्षं वो नाधिगच्छामि किञ्चन ॥ छादयित्वा च वो गात्रैः करिष्ये मरणं सह ॥१-२२१-७॥
What could I possibly do for you, my sons? How do you think I can help? While I ponder, I find no way to bring you liberation. Therefore, covering you with my own body, I will die together with you. (1-221-7)
जरितारौ कुलं हीदं ज्येष्ठत्वेन प्रतिष्ठितम्। सारिसृक्वः प्रजायेत पितृणां कुलवर्धनः ॥१-२२१-८॥
The two householders—this family is indeed established by seniority. A son who continues the lineage and increases the family of the ancestors should be born. (1-221-8)
स्तम्बमित्रस्तपः कुर्याद्द्रोणो ब्रह्मविदुत्तमः। इत्येवमुक्त्वा प्रययौ पिता वो निर्घृणः पुरा ॥१-२२१-९॥
Stambamitra should perform austerity; Droṇa, the foremost knower of Brahman. Having said this, your pitiless father departed long ago. (1-221-9)
कमुपादाय शक्येत गन्तुं कस्यापदुत्तमा। किं नु कृत्वा कृतं कार्यं भवेदिति च विह्वला ॥१-२२१-१०॥
She, distressed, wondered: "What could I take up to reach the greatest misfortune of someone? What, indeed, if done, would fulfill my duty?" (1-221-10)
नापश्यत्स्वधिया मोक्षं स्वसुतानां तदानलात्। एवं ब्रुवन्तीं शार्ङ्गास्ते प्रत्यूचुरथ मातरम् ॥१-२२१-११॥
She could not perceive, by her own wisdom, the liberation of her sons from the fire at that time. Thus, as she was speaking, the Śārṅgas replied to their mother. (1-221-11)
स्नेहमुत्सृज्य मातस्त्वं पत यत्र न हव्यवाट्। अस्मासु हि विनष्टेषु भवितारः सुतास्तव ॥ त्वयि मातर्विनष्टायां न नः स्यात्कुलसन्ततिः ॥१-२२१-१२॥
O mother, abandoning affection, you fall where there is no sacred fire. Indeed, if we are destroyed, your sons would be the future. But if you, mother, are destroyed, our family lineage would not continue. (1-221-12)
अन्ववेक्ष्यैतदुभयं क्षमं स्याद्यत्कुलस्य नः। तद्वै कर्तुं परः कालो मातरेष भवेत्तव ॥१-२२१-१३॥
O mother, having examined both of these, whatever is proper for our family, that indeed should be done by you at the appropriate time. (1-221-13)
मा वै कुलविनाशाय स्नेहं कार्षीः सुतेषु नः। न हीदं कर्म मोघं स्याल्लोककामस्य नः पितुः ॥१-२२१-१४॥
Do not, indeed, out of affection for our sons, act in a way that would destroy the family; for this action should not be in vain for our father who desires worldly prosperity. (1-221-14)
जरितोवाच॥
The sage Jarita spoke.
इदमाखोर्बिलं भूमौ वृक्षस्यास्य समीपतः। तदाविशध्वं त्वरिता वह्नेरत्र न वो भयम् ॥१-२२१-१५॥
This is the mongoose's burrow on the ground near this tree. Enter it quickly; here, you need not fear the fire. (1-221-15)
ततोऽहं पांसुना छिद्रमपिधास्यामि पुत्रकाः। एवं प्रतिकृतं मन्ये ज्वलतः कृष्णवर्त्मनः ॥१-२२१-१६॥
Then I shall cover the hole with dust, my sons. In this way, I believe the burning of the black wick is counteracted. (1-221-16)
तत एष्याम्यतीतेऽग्नौ विहर्तुं पांसुसञ्चयम्। रोचतामेष वोपायो विमोक्षाय हुताशनात् ॥१-२२१-१७॥
Then I will go, after the time has passed, to play in the heap of sand in the fire. Let this method be agreeable to you for release from the fire. (1-221-17)
शार्ङ्गका ऊचुः॥
The descendants of Śārṅga said.
अबर्हान्मांसभूतान्नः क्रव्यादाखुर्विनाशयेत्। पश्यमाना भयमिदं न शक्ष्यामो निषेवितुम् ॥१-२२१-१८॥
The flesh-eating rat should destroy us, who are of flesh, from the unworthy. Seeing this danger, we will not be able to stay here. (1-221-18)
कथमग्निर्न नो दह्यात्कथमाखुर्न भक्षयेत्। कथं न स्यात्पिता मोघः कथं माता ध्रियेत नः ॥१-२२१-१९॥
How can it be that fire does not burn us? How can the mouse not eat? How can the father not be in vain? How can the mother be sustained for us? (1-221-19)
बिल आखोर्विनाशः स्यादग्नेराकाशचारिणाम्। अन्ववेक्ष्यैतदुभयं श्रेयान्दाहो न भक्षणम् ॥१-२२१-२०॥
The destruction of the rat's hole can be accomplished by fire from those who move in the sky. Considering both options, burning is preferable to eating. (1-221-20)
गर्हितं मरणं नः स्यादाखुना खादता बिले। शिष्टादिष्टः परित्यागः शरीरस्य हुताशनात् ॥१-२२१-२१॥
For us, a death by being eaten by a rat in a hole would be disgraceful. The abandonment of the body in fire, as instructed by the noble, is preferable. (1-221-21)
