Jaratkaru, standing before the subtle presence of his ancestors—his fathers and grandfathers—addressed them with reverence: “O ancestors, you who are present here, please instruct me. What should I do this day, for I am Jaratkaru himself, your descendant.” His ancestors, longing for deliverance, spoke earnestly to him: “Dear one, exert yourself with all your strength for the continuation of our lineage—whether for your own sake, for ours, or simply for the sake of righteousness. For, O noble one, neither the fruits of righteousness nor the highest austerities can bring those without sons to the state attained by fathers who have sons. Therefore, strive to take a wife and set your mind on progeny. By our instruction, my son, this is the highest good for us all.” Hearing their plea, Jaratkaru replied with steadfast resolve: “I will not take a wife for my own sake, nor for wealth, nor for the sake of prolonging my life. But for your benefit, I will undertake marriage. Yet, I will do so under a firm condition and in accordance with proper rule: if I obtain such a wife, I will marry; otherwise, I will not. If there is a maiden who bears my name, who is offered willingly by her relatives, and who lives as an ascetic—such a girl, as prescribed, I will marry. For who would give a wife to one as poor as I? But if someone offers her as alms, I will accept. Thus, for the sake of marriage, I will strive, O ancestors, and by this rule alone—never otherwise—will I act. From that union, a being will be born for your deliverance. Having attained an eternal place, may my ancestors rejoice.” In the course of time, the serpents were cursed by their mother, O best of those who know Brahman, that at Janamejaya’s great sacrifice, the Wind-charioteer would burn them. To appease that curse, the foremost among the serpents gave his own sister in marriage to the sage Jaratkaru, that great-souled, virtuous one. Jaratkaru accepted her as his wife, in accordance with the prescribed rites. From their union was born a son named Āstīka, a child of great mind and wisdom. Āstīka grew to become an ascetic, great-souled and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches. He was impartial to all beings and a remover of fear from both father and mother. After a long time had passed, the Pandava king performed a great sacrifice, known as the snake-sacrifice, as is told. When that sacrifice began, intended for the destruction of the serpents, Āstīka, endowed with great austerity, released the serpents from the curse. He saved his brothers, maternal uncles, and many other serpents as well, and also his ancestors, by means of progeny and austerity. Through various vows and self-study, O Brahman, Āstīka became free of debt, and he satisfied the gods with sacrifices and diverse gifts. Having fulfilled the duties of celibacy and perpetuated his lineage, and having relieved the heavy burden of his ancestors, steadfast in his vows, Jaratkaru attained heaven together with his forefathers, having obtained Āstīka as a son and accomplished supreme righteousness, O sage. After a very long time, Jaratkaru went to heaven. Thus I have told you, as it truly happened, the story of Āstīka. Tell me, O tiger among the Bhṛgus, what else shall I narrate to you? The listeners, their hearts filled with longing, spoke: “O Sauti, please recount the story of Āstīka the sage and poet once again in detail, for our desire to listen is very great. Gentle one, you narrate so sweetly, with words and syllables that are smooth; we are greatly delighted, for you speak as a father would. Your father was always devoted to serving us with attentive listening; tell this story just as your father recounted it.” Sauti replied, “O long-lived one, I shall tell you the story of Āstīka as I heard it from my father, relating it exactly as it was narrated. Long ago, in the age of the gods, O Brāhmaṇa, there were two sisters, daughters of Prajāpati, both wondrous and beautiful, O sinless one. Those two, Kadrū and Vinatā, became wives of Kaśyapa. Pleased with them, their husband, who was equal to Prajāpati, granted them a boon. Kaśyapa, filled with the highest joy together with his virtuous wives, heard their supreme requests for boons. The two women, filled with incomparable delight, received their boons; Kadrū chose a thousand sons, all equal in splendor. Vinatā chose two sons, superior in strength to the sons of Kadrū, and greater than them in energy, beauty, and prowess. Kaśyapa granted her the boon, saying, ‘Such sons will be born to you.’ Vinatā replied, ‘So be it.’ Having obtained the boon as she had wished, Vinatā was satisfied, having gained two sons superior in might. Kadrū, having obtained a thousand sons equal in splendor, was told by the great ascetic, ‘Both of you must carefully bear your pregnancies.’ With their wishes fulfilled by the boons, Kaśyapa’s two wives entered the forest. At that time, O best of Brāhmaṇas, Vinatā laid two eggs; their attendants, delighted, placed the eggs for safekeeping. For five hundred years, in vessels kept warm and moist, the sons of Kadrū emerged from their eggs. But from the two eggs of Vinatā, no offspring appeared; then, the goddess, desiring a son and feeling ashamed, undertook austerities. Impatient, Vinatā broke open one egg and saw a son within, but his body was only half-formed, while the other part remained unmanifest. That son, filled with anger, cursed her, saying, ‘Because you, mother, driven by greed, have done this to me—since my body is incomplete, you shall become a slave for five hundred years to her with whom you contend.