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—
भार्यां प्रस्फुरमाणौष्ठ इदं वचनमब्रवीत्। अवमानः प्रयुक्तोऽयं त्वया मम भुजंगमे
Spoke these words to his wife, his lips trembling: 'You have shown me disrespect, O serpent woman.'
समीपे ते न वत्स्यामि गमिष्यामि यथागतम्। शक्तिरस्ति न वामोरु मयि सुप्ते विभावसोः
'I will not remain near you; I shall depart as I came. You had no power, O slender-thighed one, to prevent the sun from setting while I slept.'
अस्तं गन्तुं यथाकालमिति मे हृदि वर्तते। न चाप्यवमतस्येह वासो रोचेत कस्यचित्
'It is in my heart to leave at the proper time; nor does anyone wish to dwell where they are disrespected.'
किं पुनर्धर्मशीलस्य मम वा मद्विधस्य वा। एवमुक्ता जरत्कारुर्भर्त्रा हृदयकम्पनम्
'What then, for one devoted to righteousness, or for me, or for one like me?' Thus addressed by her husband, Jaratkāru was shaken at heart.
अब्रवीद्भगिनी तत्र वासुकेः सन्निवेशने। नावमानात्कृतवती तवाहं विप्रे बोधनम्
There, in Vāsuki’s assembly, the sister spoke: ‘O Brāhmaṇa, I awakened you not out of disrespect.’
धर्मलोपो न ते विप्र स्यादित्येतन्मया कृतम्। उवाच भार्यामित्युक्तो जरत्कारुर्महातपाः
I did this so that you, O Brāhmaṇa, would not incur a lapse of righteousness; thus I spoke to you, as instructed by my husband, the great ascetic Jaratkāru.
ऋषिः कोपसमाविष्टस्त्यक्तुकामो भुजंगमाम्। न मे वागनृतं प्राह गमिष्येऽहं भुजंगमे
The sage, seized by anger and wishing to abandon the serpent-woman, said: ‘My words are never false; I shall leave you, O serpent-woman.’
समयो ह्येष मे पूर्वं त्वया सह मिथः कृतः। सुखमस्म्युषितो भद्रे ब्रूयास्त्वं भ्रातरं शुभे
This was the agreement we made with each other before, O gentle one; I have lived happily with you—now, O auspicious one, tell your brother.
इतो मयि गते भीरु गतः स भगवानिति। त्वं चापि मयि निष्क्रान्ते न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि
When I am gone from here, O timid one, let him know that I have departed; and you, when I have left, should not grieve.
इत्युक्ता साऽनवद्याङ्गी प्रत्युवाच मुनिं तदा। जरत्कारुं जरत्कारुश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणा
Thus addressed, that faultless woman replied then to the sage Jaratkāru, her mind absorbed in anxiety and sorrow.