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.
गतमात्रं तु भर्तारं जरत्कारुरवेदयत्। भ्रातुः सकाशमागत्य यथातथ्यं तपोधन
As soon as her husband had departed, Jaratkāru went to her brother and reported everything exactly as it had happened, O ascetic.
ततः स भुजगश्रेष्ठः श्रुत्वा सुमहदप्रियम्। उवाच भगिनीं दीनां तदा दीनतरः स्वयम्
Then that foremost of serpents, hearing the great misfortune, became even more dejected and spoke to his sorrowful sister.
जानासि भद्रे यत्कार्यं प्रदाने कारणं च यत्। पन्नगानां हितार्थाय पुत्रस्ते स्यात्ततो यदि
You know, O gentle lady, what is to be done and the reason for giving; if it is for the welfare of the serpents, let your son be for that purpose.
स सर्पसत्रात्किल नो मोक्षयिष्यति वीर्यवान्। एवं पितामहः पूर्वमुक्तवांस्तु सुरैः सह
He, endowed with great energy, will surely deliver us from the snake-sacrifice; thus was it formerly declared by the Grandsire together with the gods.
अप्यस्ति गर्भः सुभगे तस्मात्ते मुनिसत्तमात्। न चेच्छाम्यफलं तस्य दारकर्म मनीषिणः
O fortunate one, is there a child in your womb from that best of sages? I do not wish that the effort of that wise one should be fruitless.
कामं च मम न न्याय्यं प्रष्टुं त्वां कार्यमीदृशम्। किंतु कार्यगरीयस्त्वात्ततस्त्वाऽहमचूचुदम्
Indeed, it is not proper for me to question you about such a matter; yet, because the matter is so weighty, I have asked you.
दुर्वार्यतां विदित्वा च भर्तुस्तेऽतितपस्विनः। नैनमन्वागमिष्यामि कदाचिद्धि शपेत्स माम्
Knowing the great austerity of your husband and his difficult nature, I will never pursue him, lest he should curse me.
आचक्ष्व भद्रे भर्तुः स्वं सर्वमेव विचेष्टितम्। उद्धरस्व च शल्यं मे घोरं हृदि चिरस्थितम्
Tell me, O gentle one, all your husband's actions; and remove from my heart the grievous thorn that has long been lodged there.
जरत्कारुस्ततो वाक्यमित्युक्ता प्रत्यभाषत। आश्वासयन्ती सन्तप्तं वासुकिं पन्नगेश्वरम्
Thus addressed, Jaratkaru replied to him, consoling the distressed Vasuki, lord of the serpents.
पृष्टो मयाऽपत्यहेतोः स महात्मा महातपाः। अस्तीत्युत्तरमुद्दिश्य ममेदं गतवांश्च सः
That great-souled, austere one was questioned by me for the sake of offspring; he gave the answer 'There is,' and then departed from me.