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.
बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा मुखेन परिशुष्यता। कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा पर्यश्रुनयना ततः
With words choked by tears, her face parched, hands joined in reverence, and eyes filled with tears, that noble lady spoke.
धैर्यमालम्ब्य वामोरूर्हृदयेन प्रवेपता। न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परित्यक्तुमनागसम्
Steadying herself, though her left thigh trembled with emotion, she said: ‘O knower of righteousness, you should not abandon me, who am without fault.’
धर्मे स्थितां स्थितो धर्मे सदा प्रियहिते रताम्। प्रदाने कारणं यच्च मम तुभ्यं द्विजोत्तम
I have remained steadfast in righteousness, devoted always to what is dear and beneficial to you; and the reason for my being given to you, O best of Brāhmaṇas—
तदलब्धवतीं मन्दां किं मां वक्ष्यति वासुकिः। मातृशापाभिभूतानां ज्ञातीनां मम सत्तम
If I, unfortunate and unsuccessful, have not obtained that, what will Vāsuki say of me, who am among relatives afflicted by our mother’s curse, O best of men?
अपत्यमीप्सितं त्वत्तस्तच्च तावन्न दृश्यते। त्वत्तो ह्यपत्यलाभेन ज्ञातीनां मे शिवं भवेत्
The offspring desired from you has not yet appeared; by obtaining a child from you, my relatives would find well-being.
संप्रयोगो भवेन्नायां मम मोघस्त्वया द्विज। ज्ञातीनां हितमिच्छन्ती भगवंस्त्वां प्रसादये
This union with you, O Brāhmaṇa, should not be in vain for me; desiring the welfare of my relatives, O lord, I entreat you.
इममव्यक्तरूपं मे गर्भमाधाय सत्तम। कथं त्यक्त्वा महात्मा सन्गन्तुमिच्छस्यनागसम्
Having placed this indistinct embryo within me, O noble one, how can you, great-souled one, wish to abandon me and go to the serpents?
एवमुक्तस्तु स मुनिर्भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत्। यद्युक्तमनुरूपं च जरत्कारुं तपोधनः
Thus addressed, the sage, rich in austerity, spoke to his wife: ‘If your words are fitting and proper, O Jaratkāru—’
अस्त्ययं सुभगे गर्भस्तव वैश्वानरोपमः। ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
‘O fortunate one, you do indeed have a child in your womb, blazing like fire—a sage, supremely righteous, learned in the Vedas and their branches.’
एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा जरत्कारुर्महानृषिः। उग्राय तपसे भूयो जगाम कृतनिश्चयः
Having spoken thus, that righteous and great sage Jaratkāru, firm in his resolve, departed again for severe austerities.