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.
स्वैरेष्वपि न तेनाहं स्मरामि वितथं वचः। उक्तपूर्वं कुतो राजन्सांपराये स वक्ष्यति
Even among his own, I do not recall him ever speaking falsely; what was once spoken by him, O king, he will fulfill in due time.
न संतापस्त्वया कार्यः कार्यं प्रति भुजंगमे। उत्पत्स्यति च ते पुत्रो ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभः
You should not be troubled, O serpent, regarding this matter; a son will be born to you, radiant as fire and the sun.
इत्युक्त्वा स हि मां भ्रातर्गतो भर्ता तपोधनः। तस्माद्व्येतु परं दुःखं तवेदं मनसि स्थितम्
Having said this, my husband, rich in austerity, departed, O brother; therefore, let this great sorrow that dwells in your heart be dispelled.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स नागेन्द्रो वासुकिः परया मुदा। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं भगिन्याः प्रत्यगृह्णत
Hearing this, the king of serpents, Vasuki, with great joy, accepted his sister's words, saying, 'So be it.'
सान्त्वमानार्थदानैश्च पूजया चारुरूपया। सोदर्यां पूजयामास स्वसारं पन्नगोत्तमः
With soothing words, gifts, and honor, the best of serpents worshipped his own sister, who was of lovely form.
ततः प्रववृधे गर्भो महातेजा महाप्रभः। यथा मोमो द्विजश्रेष्ठ शुक्लपक्षोदितो दिवि
Then the embryo, possessing great energy and brilliance, grew, O best of Brahmins, like the waxing moon in the bright fortnight.
अथ काले तु सा ब्रह्मन्प्रजज्ञे भुजगस्वसा। कुमारं देवगर्भाभं पितृमातृभयापहम्
Then, in due time, O Brahmin, the sister of the serpent king gave birth to a boy, resembling a divine child, who removed the fear of both father and mother.
ववृधे स तु तत्रैव नागराजनिवेशने। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गान्भार्गवच्यवनात्मजात्
He grew up there itself, in the house of the serpent king, and learned the Vedas with their branches from the son of Bhrigu, Chyavana.
चीर्णव्रतो बाल एव बुद्धिसत्त्वगुणान्वितः। नाम चास्याभवत्ख्यातं लोकेष्वास्तीक इत्युत
Even as a boy, he performed vows, was endowed with intelligence, virtue, and good qualities; and his name became known in the world as Astika.
अस्तीत्युक्त्वा गतो यस्मात्पिता गर्भस्थमेव तम्। वनं तस्मादिदं तस्य नामास्तीकेति विश्रुतम्
Because his father, while he was still in the womb, departed saying 'He exists,' therefore he became widely known by the name Astika.
स बाल एव तत्रस्थश्चरन्नमितबुद्धिमान्। गृहे पन्नगराजस्य प्रयत्नात्परिरक्षितः
Even as a child, he remained there, moving about with unfathomable intelligence, carefully protected in the house of the serpent king.
भगवानिव देवेशः शूलपाणिर्हिरण्मयः। विवर्धमानः सर्वांस्तान्पन्नगानभ्यहर्षयत्
Growing up, he delighted all the serpents, shining like the blessed Lord of the gods, the golden trident-bearer.
यदपृच्छत्तदा राजा मन्त्रिणो जनमेजयः। पितुः स्वर्गगतिं तन्मे विस्तरेण पुनर्वद
Then King Janamejaya asked his ministers about his father's journey to heaven: Tell me again in detail about this.
शृणु ब्रह्मन्यथाऽपृच्छन्मन्त्रिणो नृपतिस्तदा। यथा चाख्यातवन्तस्ते निधनं तत्परिक्षितः
Hear, O Brahman, how the king then questioned his ministers, and how they described the death of Parikshit.
जानन्ति स्म भवन्तस्तद्यथावृत्तं पितुर्मम। आसीद्यथा स निधनं गतः काले महायशाः
You all know what happened regarding my father, how that illustrious one met his end in due time.
श्रुत्वा भवत्सकाशाद्धि पितुर्वृत्तमशेषतः। कल्याणं प्रतिपत्स्यामि विपरीतं न जातुचित्
Having heard from you in full about my father's deeds, I shall act rightly and never in a contrary manner.
मन्त्रिणोऽथाब्रुवन्वाक्यं पृष्टास्तेन महात्मना। सर्वे धर्मविदः प्राज्ञा राजानं जनमेजयम्
Then, questioned by that great-souled one, all the wise and righteous ministers spoke these words to King Janamejaya.
शृणु पार्थिव यद्ब्रूषे पितुस्तव महात्मनः। चरितं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य यथा निष्ठां गतश्च सः
Hear, O king, what you ask about your great-souled father's conduct, and how that lord of kings reached his end.
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापालः पिता तव। आसीदिहायथा वृत्तः स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत्
Your father was righteous, great-souled, and a protector of his people; listen now to how that great one lived here.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्वधर्मस्थं स कृत्वा पर्यरक्षत। धर्मतो धर्मविद्राजा धर्मो विग्रहवानिव
He established the four orders in their own duties and protected them; the king, knower of righteousness, upheld dharma as if it were embodied.