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.
वाग्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिस्तोषयिष्येऽद्य मातुल। यथा स यज्ञो नृपतेर्निवत्रिष्यति सत्तम
Today I will please the king with auspicious words, O uncle, so that the sacrifice of the noble king may be stopped, O excellent one.
स संभावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्वं महामते। न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमर्हति
O wise serpent king, trust in me completely; let your mind never harbor doubt about me.
आस्तीक परिघूर्णामि हृदयं मे विदीर्यते। दिशो न प्रतिजानामि ब्रह्मदण्डनिपीडितः
Āstīka, I am reeling, my heart is breaking; I cannot discern the directions, afflicted by the rod of Brahma.
न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः कथंचित्पन्नगोत्तम। प्रदीप्ताग्नेः समुत्पन्नं नाशयिष्यामि ते भयम्
You should not be troubled in any way, O best of serpents; I will dispel your fear that has arisen from the blazing fire.
ब्रह्मदण्डं महाघोरं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्। नाशयिष्यामि माऽत्र त्वं भयंकार्षीः कथंचन
I will destroy the terrible rod of Brahma, equal in power to the fire of time; do not be afraid here in any way.
ततः स वासुकेर्घोरमपनीय मनोज्वरम्। आधाय चात्मनोऽङ्गेषु जगाम त्वरितो भृशम्
Then, removing the dreadful anguish from Vāsuki, he placed it upon himself and departed swiftly.
जनमेजयस्य तं यज्ञं सर्वैः समुदितं गुणैः। मोक्षाय भुजगेन्द्राणामास्तीको द्विजसत्तमः
Āstīka, best of twice-born, went to the sacrifice of Janamejaya, endowed with all virtues, for the deliverance of the lords of serpents.
स गत्वाऽपश्यदास्तीको यज्ञायतनमुत्तमम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिः सूर्यवह्निसमप्रभैः
Having gone there, Āstīka saw the excellent sacrificial enclosure, filled with many officiants shining like the sun and fire.
स तत्र वारितो द्वास्थैः प्रविशन्द्विजसत्तमः। अभितुष्टाव तं यज्ञं प्रवेशार्थी परंतपः
There, as he tried to enter, the best of twice-born was stopped by the gatekeepers; desiring entry, the mighty ascetic praised the sacrifice.
स प्राप्य यज्ञायतनं वरिष्ठं द्विजोत्तमः पुण्यकृतां वरिष्ठः। तुष्टाव राजानमनन्तकीर्ति- मृत्विक्सदस्यांश्च तथैव चाग्निम्
Having reached the foremost sacrificial hall, the best of twice-born, foremost among the virtuous, praised the king of endless fame, the priests, the officiants, and likewise the fire.