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.'
प्रतिश्रुते तु नागेन भरिष्ये भगिनीमिति। जरत्कारुस्तदा वेश्म भुजगस्य जगाम ह
When the serpent promised, 'I will support my sister,' Jaratkaru then went to the serpent's abode.
तत्र मन्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठस्तपोवृद्धो महाव्रतः। जग्राह पाणिं धर्मात्मा विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्
There, the best among those skilled in mantras, great in austerity and vows, the righteous one took her hand, preceded by the proper rites and mantras.
ततो वासगृहं रम्यं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य संमतम्। जगाम भार्याम दाय स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः
Then, giving his wife, he went to the delightful dwelling approved by the lord of serpents, praised by the great sages.
शयनं तत्र संक्लृप्तं स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृतम्। तत्र भार्यासहायो वै जरत्कारुरुवास ह
There, a bed was prepared, covered with splendid bedding; there Jaratkaru dwelled with his wife.
स तत्र समयं चक्रे भार्यया सह सत्तमः। विप्रियं मे न कर्तव्यं न च वाच्यं कदाचन
There, the noble one made an agreement with his wife: 'You must never do anything displeasing to me, nor ever speak such words.'
त्यजेयं विप्रिये च त्वां कृते वासं च ते गृहे। एतद्गृहाण वचनं मया यत्समुदीरितम्
'If you do something displeasing, or say such words, I will leave you and your house. Accept this statement I have made.'
ततः परमसंविग्ना स्वसा नागपतेस्तदा। अतिदुःखान्विता वाक्यं तमुवाचैवमस्त्विति
Then, deeply distressed, the sister of the serpent lord spoke, weighed down by sorrow, saying, 'So be it.'
तथैव सा च भर्तारं दुःखशीलमुपचारत्। उपायैः श्वेतकाकीयैः प्रियकामा यशस्विनी
In the same way, she attended to her husband, who was inclined to sorrow, with gentle means and affection, desiring his favor, she who was renowned.
ऋतुकाले ततः स्नाता कदाचिद्वासुकेः स्वसा। भर्तारं वै यथान्यायमुपतस्थे महामुनिम्
At the proper time, having bathed, the sister of Vāsuki once approached her husband, the great sage, as was fitting.
तत्र तस्याः समभवद्गर्भो ज्वलनसन्निभः। अतीव तेजसा युक्तो वैश्वानरसमद्युतिः
There arose within her a pregnancy, blazing like fire, endowed with great brilliance, shining with the radiance of Vaiśvānara.
शुक्लपक्षे यथा सोमो व्यवर्धत तथैव सः। ततः कतिपयाहस्तु जरत्कारुर्महायशाः
Just as the moon waxes in the bright fortnight, so too did he grow; then, after a few days, the illustrious Jaratkāru—
उत्सङ्गेऽस्याः शिरः कृत्वा सुष्वाप परिखिन्नवत्। तस्मिंश्च सुप्ते विप्रेन्द्रे सवितास्तमियाद्गिरिम्
Rested his head in her lap and slept, exhausted; and while the eminent sage slept, the sun set behind the mountain.
अह्नः परिक्षये ब्रह्मंस्ततः साऽचिन्तयत्तदा। वासुकेर्भगिनी भीता धर्मलोपान्मनस्विनी
As the day drew to a close, the sister of Vāsuki, fearful of violating duty, reflected upon this, her mind anxious.
किं नु मे सुकृतं भूयाद्भर्तुरुत्थापनं न वा। दुःखशीलो हि धर्मात्मा कथं नास्यापराध्नुयाम्
Should I do what is right, or awaken my husband, or not? He is sorrowful and righteous—how can I avoid wrongdoing toward him?
कोपो वा धर्मशीलस्य धर्मलोपोऽथवा पुनः। धर्मलोपो गरीयान्वै स्यादित्यत्राकरोन्मतिम्
Anger may arise in one devoted to righteousness, or a lapse in duty; indeed, a lapse in duty is weightier, so she considered.
उत्थापयिष्ये यद्येनं ध्रुवं कोपं करिष्यति। धर्मलोपो भवेदस्य सन्ध्यातिक्रमणे ध्रुवम्
If I awaken him, he will surely become angry; but if I do not, a lapse in duty will occur, for the twilight will be missed.
इति निश्चित्य मनसा जरत्कारुर्भुजंगमा। तमृषिं दीप्ततपसं शयानमनलोपमम्
Having resolved thus in her mind, Jaratkāru's serpent wife approached the sage, radiant in austerity, as he lay like fire.
उवाचेदं वचः श्लक्ष्णं ततो मधुरभाषिणी। उत्तिष्ठ त्वं महाभाग सूर्योऽस्तमुपगच्छति
Then, speaking gently and sweetly, she said, 'Rise, O fortunate one, the sun is setting.'
सन्ध्यामुपास्स्व भगवन्नपः स्पृष्ट्वा यतव्रतः। प्रादुष्कृताग्निहोत्रोऽयं मुहूर्तो रम्यदारुणः
'Perform the twilight rites, O blessed one, having touched water, steadfast in vows; the time for the fire-offering has come, this beautiful, reddish moment.'
सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते चेयं पश्चिमायां दिशि प्रभो। एवमुक्तः स भगवाञ्जरत्कारुर्महातपाः
'The twilight is beginning in the western direction, O lord.' Thus addressed, the illustrious Jaratkāru, great in austerity—