अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र ऋत्विजोऽस्य भवामहे। यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यामो दक्षिणा दीयतामिति
Others said there: Let us become the officiating priests for him; we will create an obstacle to the sacrifice, and demand the sacrificial gifts.
वश्यतां च गतोऽसौ नः करिष्यति यथेप्सितम्। अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र जले प्रक्रीडितं नृपम्
He has come under our control and will do as we wish; others said there: Let us bring the king from the water where he plays.
गृहमानीय बध्नीमः क्रतुरेवं भवेन्न सः। अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र नागाः पण्डितमानिनः
Let us bring him to the house and bind him; thus, the sacrifice will not occur.
दशामस्तं प्रगृह्याशु कृतपेवं भविष्यति। छिन्नं मूलमनर्थानां मृते तस्मिन्भविष्यति
Other serpents there, who considered themselves wise, said: Let us quickly seize him and bite him; thus, the root of our troubles will be cut off when he dies.
एषा नो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिः सर्वेषामीक्षणश्रवः। अथ यन्मन्यसे राजन्द्रुतं तत्संविधीयताम्
This is our final decision, after considering and hearing all; now, O king, whatever you think should be done, let it be arranged swiftly.
इत्युक्त्वा समुदैक्षन्त वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। वासुकिश्चापि संचिन्त्य तानुवाच भुजङ्गमान्
Having spoken thus, they all looked at Vasuki, the chief of serpents; and Vasuki, reflecting, addressed the serpents.
नैषा वो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिर्मता कर्तुं भुजङ्गमाः। सर्वेषामेव मे बुद्धिः पन्नगानां न रोचते
This is not the final decision I approve for you, serpents; the plan of all the serpents does not please me.
किं तत्र संविधातव्यं भवतां स्याद्धितं तु यत्। श्रेयः प्रसादनं मन्ये कश्यपश्य महात्मनः
What should be arranged here that would be for your benefit? I think it is best to win the favor of the great-souled Kasyapa.
ज्ञातिवर्गस्य सौहार्दादात्मनश्च भुजङ्गमाः। न च जानाति मे बुद्धिः किंचित्कर्तुं वचो हिवः
Out of friendship for our kin and for ourselves, O serpents, my mind does not know what to do, nor do I accept your words.
मया हीदं विधातव्यं भवतां यद्धितं भवेत्। अनेनाहं भृशं तप्ये गुणदोषौ मदाश्रयौ
I must arrange whatever would be for your welfare; I am greatly troubled by the virtues and faults that depend on me.
सर्पाणां तु वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषामिति चेति च। वासुकेश्च वचः श्रुत्वा एलापत्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Having heard the words of all the serpents, and also Vasuki's speech, Elapatra spoke these words.
प्रागेव दर्शिता बुद्धिर्मयैषा भुजगोत्तमाः। हेयेति यदि वो बुद्धिस्तवापि च तथा प्रभो
This plan was shown earlier by me, O chief of serpents; if your intention is to abandon it, then so be it, O lord.
अस्तु कामं मभाद्यापि बुद्धिः स्मरणमागता। तां शृणुध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्येन पन्नगाः
Let it be as you wish, even if the plan is recalled; listen, O serpents, I will speak it to you truthfully.
न स यज्ञो न भविता न स राजा तथाविधः। जनमेजयः पाण्डवेयो यतोऽस्माकं महद्भयम्
That sacrifice will not occur, nor will that king be such; Janamejaya, the Pandava, from whom our great fear arises.
दैवेनोपहतो राजन्यो भवेदिह पूरुषः। स दैवमेवाश्रयेत नान्यत्तत्र परायणम्
When a royal person is struck down by fate in this world, he should rely only upon destiny; there is no other refuge in that matter.
तदिदं चैवमस्माकं भयं पन्नगसत्तमाः। दैवमेवाश्रयामोऽत्र शृणुध्वं च वचो मम
Therefore, O best among serpents, this is the fear that has come upon us; let us rely here upon destiny alone, and listen to my words.
अहं शापे समुत्सृष्टे समश्रौषं वचस्तदा। मातुरुत्सङ्गमारूढो भयात्पन्नगसत्तमाः। देवानां पन्नगश्रेष्ठास्तीक्ष्णास्तीक्ष्ण इति प्रभो
When the curse was pronounced, I heard those words at that time, O best among serpents, seated in my mother's lap out of fear; the gods, O lord, called the foremost serpents 'fierce, fierce.'
शापदुःखाग्नितप्तानां पन्नगानामनामयम्। कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टाः प्रार्थयन्तो दिवौकसः
The gods, moved by great compassion, prayed for the well-being of the serpents afflicted by the fire of the curse's suffering.
का हि लब्ध्वा प्रियान्पुत्राञ्शपेदेवं पितामह। ऋते कद्रूं तीक्ष्णरूपां देवदेव तवाग्रतः
What father, having obtained beloved sons, would curse them so, O grandsire, except for Kadru, fierce in form, before you, O lord of gods?
तथेति च वचस्तस्यास्त्वयाप्युक्तं पितामह। इच्छाम एतद्विज्ञातुं कारणं यन्न वारिता
And you, O grandsire, also spoke the words 'so be it' to her; we wish to know the reason why you did not prevent it.
बहवः पन्नगास्तीक्ष्णा घोररूपा विषोल्बणाः। प्रजानां हितकामोऽहं न च वारितवांस्तदा
Many serpents are fierce, terrifying in form, and abundant in poison; desiring the welfare of creatures, I did not restrain her then.
ये दन्दशूकाः क्षुद्राश्च पापाचारा विषोल्बणाः। तेषां विनाशो भविता न तु ये धर्मचारिणः
Those who are small, wicked in conduct, and abundant in poison among the snakes will perish, but not those who follow righteousness.
यन्निमित्तं च भविता मोक्षस्तेषां महाभयात्। पन्नगानां निबोधध्वं तस्मिन्काले समागते
Hear now, when the time comes, the cause by which liberation from great fear will occur for the serpents.
यायावरकुले धीमान्भविष्यति महानृषिः। जरत्कारुरिति ख्यातस्तपस्वी नियतेन्द्रियः
In the lineage of wandering ascetics, a great sage will be born, renowned as Jaratkaru, devoted to austerity and self-restraint.
तस्य पुत्रो जरत्कारोर्भविष्यति तपोधनः। आस्तीको नाम यज्ञं स प्रतिषेत्स्यति तं तदा। तत्र मोक्ष्यन्ति भुजगा ये भविष्यन्ति धार्मिकाः
His son, Jaratkaru, rich in austerity, will be named Astika; he will halt the sacrifice at that time, and the righteous serpents will be freed there.
स मुनिप्रवरो ब्रह्मञ्जरत्कारुर्महातपाः। कस्यां पुत्रं महात्मानं जनयिष्यति वीर्यवान्
O Brahman, that foremost sage, Jaratkaru, of great austerity, will beget a mighty son—whose daughter will he marry?
वासुकेर्भगिनी कन्या समुत्पन्ना सुशोभना। तस्मै दास्यति तां कन्यां वासुकिर्भुजगोत्तमः
A beautiful maiden, the sister of Vasuki, has been born; Vasuki, the chief of serpents, will give her to him.
तस्यां जनयिता पुत्रं वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम्।' सनामायां सनामा स कन्यायां द्विजसत्तमः
In her, he will beget a son who is accomplished in the Vedas and their branches; that maiden, named Sanama, will bear the illustrious twice-born.
एवमस्त्विति तं देवाः पितामहमथाब्रुवन्। उत्क्वैवं वचनं देवान्विरिञ्चिस्त्रिदिवं ययौ
Let it be so—thus the gods spoke to the grandsire; then, having said this to the gods, Virinchi went to heaven.
सोऽहमेवं प्रपश्यामि वासुके भगिनी तव। जरत्कारुरिति ख्याता तां तस्मै प्रतिपादय
Thus I see it, O Vasuki, your sister, renowned as Jaratkaru; give her to him.