प्रसादितो मया पूर्वं तवार्थाय पितामहः। तस्मात्तव भयं नास्ति व्येतु तेनसो ज्वरः
'Formerly, I have propitiated the Grandsire for your sake; therefore, you have no fear. Let your anxiety depart.'
एवमाश्वासितस्तेन ततः स भुजगोत्तमः। उवास भवने तस्मिञ्शक्रस्य मुदितः सुखी
Thus reassured by him, that best of serpents dwelled happily and content in Indra’s mansion.
अजस्रं निपतत्स्वग्नौ नागेषु भृशदुःखितः। अल्पशेषपरीवारो वासुकिः पर्यतप्यत
But Vasuki, surrounded by only a few remaining kin, was greatly tormented as the serpents fell endlessly into the fire.
कश्मलं चाविशद्धोरं वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्। स घूर्णमानहृदयो भगिनीमिदमब्रवीत्
A dreadful despair seized Vasuki, the chief of serpents; his heart reeling, he spoke these words to his sister.
दह्यन्तेऽङ्गानि मे भद्रे न दिशः प्रतिभान्ति माम्। सीदामीव च संमोहाद्धूर्णतीव च मे मनः
'My limbs are burning, dear one, and I cannot perceive the directions; I seem to sink from confusion, and my mind reels.'
दृष्टिर्भ्राम्यति मेऽतीव हृदयं दीर्यतीव च। पतिष्याम्यवशोऽद्याहं तस्मिन्दीप्ते विभावसौ
'My vision whirls intensely, my heart feels as if it is torn; today, helpless, I shall fall into that blazing fire.'
पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञोऽसौ वर्ततेऽस्मज्जिघांसया। व्यक्तं मयाऽभिगन्तव्यं प्रेतराजनिवेशनम्
'That sacrifice of Parikshit's son is underway, intending our destruction; surely, I must go to the realm of the lord of the dead.'
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो यदर्थमसि मे स्वसः। जरत्करौ(पुरा)मयादत्तात्रायस्वास्मान्सबान्धवान्
'Now the time has come, sister, for which I gave you to Jaratkaru before; save us and our kin.'
आस्तीकः किल यज्ञं तं वर्तन्तं भुजगोत्तमे। प्रतिषेत्स्यति मां पूर्वं स्वयमाह पितामहः
'Astika, it is said, will oppose that ongoing sacrifice for the sake of the serpents; the Grandsire himself told me this before.'
तद्वत्से ब्रूहि वत्सं स्वं कुमारं वृद्धसंमतम्। ममाद्य त्वं सभृत्यस्य मोक्षार्थं वेदवित्तमम्
'Therefore, dear one, tell your son Astika, esteemed by the elders, who knows the Vedas, to secure freedom for me and my household today.'
तत आहूय पुत्रं स्वं जरत्कारुर्भुजंगमा। वासुकेर्नागराजस्य वचनादिदमब्रवीत्
Then, summoning her son Jaratkaru, the serpent woman, at the command of Vasuki, king of the serpents, spoke these words.
अहं तव पितुः पुत्र भ्रात्रा दत्ता निमित्ततः। कालः स चायं संप्राप्तस्तत्कुरुष्व यथातथम्
'I was given to your father, my son, by my brother for a purpose; now that time has come—do what must be done.'
किंनिमित्तं मम पितुर्दत्ता त्वं मातुलेन मे। तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन श्रुत्वा कर्ताऽस्मि तत्तथा
'For what reason did my uncle give you to my father? Tell me that truly; having heard, I will act accordingly.'
तत आचष्ट सा तस्मै बान्धवानां हितैषिणी। भगिनी नागराजस्य जरत्कारुरविक्लबा
Then she, the well-wisher of her kin, the sister of the serpent king, Jaratkaru, unwavering, explained everything to him.
पन्नगानामशेषाणां माता कद्रूरिति श्रुता। तया शप्ता रुषितया सुता यस्मान्निबोध तत्
Kadru is known as the mother of all serpents; listen to the reason why her angry curse befell her sons.
उच्चैः श्रवाः सोऽश्वराजो यन्मिथ्या न कृतो मम। विनतार्थाय पणिते दासभावाय पुत्रकाः
Uccaiḥśravā, the king of horses, was not made by me falsely; my sons were wagered for Vinatā’s sake, to become servants.
जनमेजयस्य वो यज्ञे धक्ष्यत्यनिलसारथिः। तत्र पञ्चत्वमापन्नाः प्रेतलोकं गमिष्यथ
In the sacrifice of Janamejaya, you will be consumed by the wind-charioteer; there you will perish and go to the world of the departed.
तां च शप्तवतीं देवः साक्षाल्लोकपितामहः। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं प्रोवाचानु मुमोद च
The god, the grandfather of the worlds, directly addressed her who had uttered the curse, saying, 'So be it,' and was pleased with her words.
वासुकिश्चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा पितामहवचस्तदा। अमृते मथिते तात देवाञ्छरणमीयिवान्
Vāsuki, upon hearing the words of the Grandfather at that time, when the nectar was churned, sought refuge with the gods.
सिद्धार्थाश्च सुराः सर्वे प्राप्यामृतमनुत्तमम्। भ्रातरं मे पुरस्कृत्य पितामहमुपागमन्
All the gods, having attained the supreme nectar, accomplished their purpose; bringing my brother forward, they approached the Grandfather.
ते तं प्रसादयामासुः सुराः सर्वेऽब्जसंभवम्। राज्ञा वासुकिना सार्धं शापोऽसौन भवेदिति
All the gods, together with King Vāsuki, sought to appease the lotus-born one, so that the curse might not take effect.
वासुकिर्नागराजोऽयं दुःखितो ज्ञातिकारणात्। अभिशापः स मातुस्तु भगवन्न भवेत्कथम्
Vāsuki, the king of serpents, was distressed on account of his kin; O blessed one, how can the curse of his mother not come to pass?
जरत्कारुर्जरत्कारुं यां भार्यां समवाप्स्यति। तत्र जातो द्विजः शापान्मोक्षयिष्यति पन्नगान्
When Jaratkāru marries a wife named Jaratkāru, then a twice-born son will be born who will release the serpents from the curse.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं वासुकिः पन्नगोत्तमः। प्रादान्माममरप्रख्य तव पित्रे महात्मने
Hearing these words, Vāsuki, the foremost of serpents, gave me to your noble father, as if I were immortal.
प्रागेवानागते काले तस्मात्त्व मय्यजायथाः। अयं स कालः संप्राप्तो भयान्नस्त्रातुमर्हसि
Before the destined time arrived, you were born from me; now that time has come, you must save us from fear.
भ्रातरं चापि मे तस्मात्त्रातुमर्हसि पावकात्। न मोघं तु कृतं तत्स्याद्यदहं तव धीमते। पित्रे दत्ता विमोक्षार्थं कथं वा पुत्र मन्यसे
Therefore, you must save my brother from the fire; let not the promise made by your wise father be in vain; he gave you for our liberation—what do you think, my son?
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सास्तीको मातरं तदा। अब्रवीद्दुःखसंतप्तं वासुकिं जीवयन्निव
Thus addressed, Śaunaka replied, 'So be it,' and then spoke to his mother, comforting the sorrowful Vāsuki as if reviving him.
अहं त्वां मोक्षयिष्यामि वासुके पन्नगोत्तम। तस्माच्छापान्महासत्त्व सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
I will deliver you, Vāsuki, foremost of serpents; therefore, O great one, I speak this truth to you: I will free you from the curse.
भव स्वस्थमना नाग न हि ते विद्यते भयम्। प्रयतिष्ये तथा राजन्यथा श्रेयो भविष्यति
Be of calm mind, O serpent; you have no cause for fear. I will strive so that the king’s sacrifice will bring about your welfare.
न मे वागनृतं प्राह स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा। तं वै नृपवरं गत्वा दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्
My words have never been false, not even among my own; how then could they be otherwise? I will go to the noble king Janamejaya, who is consecrated.