तत्सर्वं न समं तात संतत्येति सतां मतम्। स तात दृष्ट्वा ब्रूयास्तं जरत्कारुं तपोधन
All of that, dear one, is not considered equal by the virtuous to the continuation of the lineage; therefore, upon seeing him, you should speak to that ascetic Jaratkaru.
यथा दृष्टमिदं चात्र त्वयाऽऽख्येयमशेषतः। यथा दारान्प्रकुर्यात्स पुत्रानुत्पादयेद्यथा
As you have seen this, you must fully relate it here, so that he may take a wife and produce offspring as is proper.
वा ब्रह्मंस्त्वया वाच्यः सोऽस्माकं नाथवत्तया। बान्धवानां हितस्येह यथा चात्मकुलं तथा
Or, O Brahmin, you should tell him this on our behalf, as one who is our protector, for the welfare of his kin here, just as for his own family.
कस्त्वं बन्धुमिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम। श्रोतुमिच्छाम सर्वेषां को भवानिह तिष्ठति
Who are you, O best of beings, that you grieve for us as if you were our kinsman? We all wish to hear: who are you that stands here?
एतच्छ्रुत्वा जरत्कारुर्भृशं शोकपरायणः। उवाच तान्पितॄन्दुःखाद्बाष्पसंदिग्धया गिरा
Hearing this, Jaratkaru, overwhelmed by sorrow, spoke to those ancestors with a voice choked by tears.
मम पूर्वे भवन्तो वै पितरः सपितामहाः। तद्ब्रूत यन्मया कार्यं भवतां प्रियकाम्यया
You, my ancestors and forefathers, are truly my elders; tell me what I must do to fulfill your dearest wish.
अहमेव जरत्कारुः किल्बिषी भवतां सुतः। ते दण्डं धारयत मे दुष्कृतेरकृतात्मनः
I alone am Jaratkaru, your sinful son; let me bear the punishment for my misdeeds and lack of self-control.
पुत्र दिष्ट्याऽसि संप्राप्त इमं देशं यदृच्छया। किमर्थं च त्वया ब्रह्मन्न कृतो दारसङ्ग्रहः
Son, by good fortune you have arrived at this place by chance; O Brahmin, why have you not taken a wife?
ममायं पितरो नित्यं हृद्यर्थः परिवर्तते। ऊर्ध्वरेताः शरीरं वै प्रापयेयममुत्र वै
This matter concerning my ancestors always weighs upon my heart; being celibate, I would send my body to the next world.
न दारान्वै करिष्येऽहमिति मे भावितं मनः। एवं दृष्ट्वा तु भवतः शकुन्तानिव लम्बतः
It was firmly resolved in my mind that I would not take a wife; yet, seeing you hanging like birds, I am moved.
मया निवर्तिता बुद्धिर्ब्रह्मचर्यात्पितामहाः। करिष्ये वः प्रियं कामं निवेक्ष्येऽहमसंशयम्
My mind, O forefathers, was turned away from marriage by devotion to celibacy; but now I shall do your will, without doubt.
सनाम्नीं यद्यहं कन्यामुपलप्स्ये कदाचन। भविष्यति च या काचिद्भैक्ष्यवत्स्वयमुद्यता
If ever I should obtain a maiden bearing my name, who comes forward of her own accord like alms, then—
प्रतिग्रहीता तामस्मि न भरेयं च यामहम्। एवंविधमहं कुर्यां निवेशं प्राप्नुयां यदि। अन्यथा न करिष्येऽहं सत्यमेतत्पितामहाः
I will accept her, but I will not maintain her; if such a situation arises, I shall enter into marriage; otherwise, I will not do so—this is the truth, O forefathers.
तत्र चोत्पत्स्यते जन्तुर्भवतां तारणाय वै। शाश्वताश्चाव्ययाश्चैव तिष्ठन्तु पितरो मम
From that union, a being will be born for your deliverance; may my ancestors remain eternal and undiminished.
एवमुक्त्वा तु स पितॄंश्चचार पृथिवी मुनिः। न च स्म लभते भार्यां वृद्धोऽयमिति शानक
Having spoken thus to his ancestors, the sage wandered the earth, but, O Shaunaka, he could not find a wife, for he was old.
यदा निर्वेदमापन्नः पितृभिश्चोदिस्तथा। तदाऽरण्यं स गत्वोच्चैश्चुक्रोश भृशदुःखितः
When he became disheartened, having been urged by his ancestors, he went to the forest and cried out loudly in great distress.
सत्वरण्यगतः प्राज्ञः पितॄणा हितकाम्यया। उवाच कन्यां याचामि तिस्रो वाचः शनैरिमाः
Quickly entering the forest, wise and intent on his ancestors' welfare, he said, 'I ask for a maiden,' uttering these words three times slowly.
यानि भूतानि सन्तीह स्थावराणि चराणि च। अन्तर्हितानि वा यानि तानि शृण्वन्तु मे वचः
Let all beings here, both stationary and moving, and those that are hidden, hear my words.
उग्रे तपसि वर्तन्तं पितरश्चोदयन्ति माम्। निविशस्वेति दुःखार्ताः सन्तानस्य चिकीर्षया
While I was engaged in severe austerities, my ancestors urged me, distressed by suffering and desiring the continuation of the lineage, saying, 'Enter household life.'
निवेशायाखिलां भूमिं कन्याभैक्ष्यं चरामि भोः। दरिद्रो दुःखशीलश्च पितृभिः सन्नियोजितः
For the sake of settling down, I wander the whole earth seeking a maiden in alms; poor and afflicted by hardship, I have been instructed by my ancestors.
यस्य कन्याऽस्ति भूतस्य ये मयेह प्रकीर्तिताः। ते मे कन्यां प्रयच्छन्तु चरतः सर्वतोदिशम्
Whoever among those I have mentioned here possesses a maiden, let them give her to me, who wanders in every direction.
मम कन्या सनाम्नी या भैक्ष्यवच्चोदिता भवेत्। भरेयं चैव यां नाहं तां मे कन्यां प्रयच्छत
Whichever maiden, named as mine, is offered to me like alms, and whom I am able to support—let them give me that maiden.
ततस्ते पन्नगा ये वै जरत्कारौ समाहिताः। तामादाय प्रवृत्तिं ते वासुकेः प्रत्यवेदयन्
Then those serpents who were devoted to Jaratkaru took her and reported the matter to Vasuki.
तेषां श्रुत्वा स नागेन्द्रस्तां कन्यां समलङ्कृताम्। प्रगृह्यारण्यमगमत्समीपं तस्य पन्नगः
Hearing this, the lord of serpents took that adorned maiden, and approaching him, the serpent went to the forest.
तत्र तां भैक्ष्यवत्कन्यां प्रादात्तस्मै महात्मने। नागेन्द्रो वासुकिर्ब्रह्मन्न स तां प्रत्यगृह्णत
There, the lord of serpents Vasuki gave that maiden, as if for alms, to the great-souled one; but he did not accept her.
असनामेति वै मत्वा भरणे चाविचारिते। मोक्षभावे स्थितश्चापि मन्दीभूतः परिग्रहे
Thinking, 'She is not to be supported,' and without considering her maintenance, and being intent on renunciation, he became disinclined to accept her.
ततो नाम स कन्यायाः पप्रच्छ भृगुनन्दन। वासुकिं भरणं चास्या न कुर्यामित्युवाच ह
Then, O descendant of Bhrigu, he asked the maiden's name and said to Vasuki, 'I will not undertake her maintenance.'
वासुकिस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं जरत्कारुमृषिं तदा। सनाम्नी तव कन्येयं स्वसा मे तपसान्विता
Then Vasuki spoke these words to the sage Jaratkaru: 'This maiden, named after you, is my sister, endowed with austerity.'
भरिष्यामि च ते भार्यां प्रतीच्छेमां द्विजोत्तम। रक्षणं च करिष्येऽस्याः सर्वशक्त्या तपोधन। त्वदर्थं रक्ष्यते चैषा मया मुनिवरोत्तम
'I will support your wife; accept her, best of twice-born. I will protect her with all my power, O treasure of austerity. For your sake, O best of sages, she will be protected by me.'
न भरिष्येऽहमेतां वै एष मे समयः कृतः। अप्रियं च न कर्तव्यं कृते चैनां त्यजाम्यहम्
'I will not support her; this is my vow. Nor should anything unpleasant be done; if it is, I will abandon her.'