स डौण्डुभं परित्यज्य रूपं विप्रर्षभस्तदा। स्वरूपं भास्वरं भूयः प्रतिपेदे महायशाः
Then, abandoning the form of Dundubha, that illustrious Brahmin sage regained his radiant true form.
इदं चोवाच वचनं रुरुमप्रतिमौजसम्। अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां वर
He spoke this word to Ruru, whose strength was unmatched: Non-injury is the highest dharma, O best among all living beings.
तस्मात्प्राणभृतः सर्वान्न हिंस्याद्ब्राह्मणः क्वचित्। ब्राह्मणः सौम्य एवेह भवतीति परा श्रुतिः
Therefore, a Brahmin should never harm any living creature; the supreme teaching here is that a Brahmin is gentle.
वेदवेदाङ्गविन्नाम सर्वभूताभयप्रदः। अहिंसा सत्यवचनं क्षमा चेति विनिश्चितम्
One who knows the Vedas and their branches is called the giver of fearlessness to all beings; non-injury, truthfulness, and forgiveness are established as his qualities.
ब्राह्मणस्य परो धर्मो वेदानां धारणापि च। क्षत्रियस्य हि यो धर्मः स नेहेष्येत वै तव
The highest duty of a Brahmin is the preservation of the Vedas; but the duty of a Kshatriya is not the same as yours.
दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्। तदिदं क्षत्रियस्यासीत्कर्म वै शृणु मे रुरो
Bearing the rod of authority, displaying fierceness, and protecting the people—these are indeed the actions of a Kshatriya; listen to me, Ruru.
जनमेजयस्य यज्ञेऽस्मिन्सर्पाणां हिंसनं पुरा। परित्राणं च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि
In the sacrifice of Janamejaya, there was once the destruction of snakes, and also the protection of frightened serpents by a Brahmin.
तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात्। आस्तीकाद्द्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम
From Astika, foremost among twice-born, endowed with ascetic power, energy, and strength, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, O best of Brahmins, came deliverance at the snake-sacrifice.
कथं हिंसितवान्सर्पान्स राजा जनमेजयः। सर्पा वा हिंसितास्तत्र किमर्थं द्विजसत्तम
How did King Janamejaya harm the snakes? And why were the snakes harmed there, O best of Brahmins?
किमर्थं मोक्षिताश्चैव पन्नगास्तेन धीमता। आस्तीकेन द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषतः
For what reason were the serpents released by the wise Astika? O best of Brahmins, I wish to hear everything in detail.
श्रोष्यसि त्वं रुरो सर्वमास्तीकचरितं महत्। ब्राह्मणानां कथयतां त्वरावान्गमने ह्यहम्
You will hear, Ruru, the entire great story of Astika, as told by the Brahmins; I am in haste to depart.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिते योगात्तस्मिन्नृषिवरे प्रभौ। संभ्रमाविष्टहृदयो रुरुर्मेने तदद्भुतम्
Having spoken thus, that illustrious sage vanished through his yogic power; Ruru, his heart seized by amazement, considered it a wonder.
बलं परममास्थाय पर्यधावत्समन्ततः। तमृषिं नष्टमन्विच्छन्संश्रान्तो न्यपतद्भुवि
Relying on his utmost strength, he ran all around searching for the vanished sage, but exhausted, he fell to the ground.
स मोहे परमं गत्वा नष्टसंज्ञ इवाभवत्। तदृषेर्वचनं तथ्यं चिन्तयानः पुनःपुनः
Falling into a deep swoon, he became as if unconscious, pondering again and again the truth of the sage’s words.
लब्धसंज्ञो रुरुश्चायात्तदाचख्यौ पितुस्तदा। `पित्रे तु सर्वमाख्याय डुण्डुभस्य वचोऽर्थवत्
Regaining consciousness, Ruru then told his father everything, conveying the meaningful words of Dundubhi.
अपृच्छत्पितरं भूयः सोस्तीकस्य वचस्तदा। आख्यापयत्तदाऽऽख्यानं डुण्डुभेनाथ कीर्तितम्
He again questioned his father about Astika’s words, and his father narrated the story as recounted by Dundubhi.
तत्कीर्त्यमानं भगवञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः।' पिता चास्य तदाख्यानं पृष्टः सर्वं न्यवेदयत्
Desiring to hear that story in its truth, the venerable one asked; and his father, when questioned, related everything.
किमर्थं राजशार्दूलः स राजा जनमेजयः। सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतोऽन्तं तद्वदस्व मे
For what reason did that tiger among kings, Janamejaya, seek the destruction of the snakes through the snake-sacrifice? Tell me this.
निखिलेन यथातत्त्वं सौते सर्वमशेषतः। आस्तीकश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठः किमर्थं जपतां वरः
O Sauti, recount everything completely and truly; and for what reason did Astika, best of the twice-born and foremost among reciters, release the serpents?
मोक्षयामास भुजगान्प्रदीप्ताद्वसुरेतसः। कस्य पुत्रः स राजासीत्सर्पसत्रं य आहरत्
By whom were the serpents released from the blazing sacrifice by Astika, the wise? Whose son was that king who performed the snake-sacrifice?
स च द्विजातिप्रवरः कस्य पुत्रोऽभिधत्स्व मे
And that foremost of the twice-born, whose son was he? Tell me this.
श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषेण कथामेतां मनोरमाम्
I wish to hear this delightful story in its entirety.
आस्तीकस्य पुराणर्षेर्ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनः
Of Āstīka, the renowned sage of ancient times, a distinguished Brāhmaṇa.
कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिषु। पूर्वं प्रचोदितः सूतः पिता मे लोमहर्षणः
What was spoken by Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana to those dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya, my father, Lomaharṣaṇa the Sūta, was formerly instructed.
शिष्यो व्यासस्य मेधावी ब्राह्मणेष्विदमुक्तवान्। तस्मादहमुपश्रुत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम्
A wise disciple of Vyāsa among Brāhmaṇas, he declared this; therefore, having heard from him, I shall relate it accurately.
इदमास्तीकमाख्यानं तुभ्यं शौनक पृच्छते। कथयिष्याम्यशेषेण सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
This tale of Āstīka, which you inquire about, O Śaunaka, I shall narrate in full, a story that destroys all sins.
आस्तीकस्य पिता ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिसमः प्रभुः। ब्रह्मचारी यताहारस्तपस्युग्रे रतः सदा
Āstīka's father was a lord equal to Prajāpati, a celibate, moderate in diet, always devoted to severe austerity.
जरत्कारुरिति ख्यात ऊर्ध्वरेता महातपाः। यायावराणां प्रवरो धर्मज्ञः संशितव्रतः
He was known as Jaratkāru, endowed with great ascetic power, foremost among wandering ascetics, knowledgeable in dharma, firm in his vows.
स कदाचिन्महाभागस्तपोबलसमन्वितः। चचार पृथिवीं सर्वां यत्रसायंगृहो मुनिः
Once, that illustrious one, possessing the strength of austerity, wandered over the entire earth, wherever the sage found shelter for the evening.
तीर्थेषु च समाप्लावं कुर्वन्नटति सर्वशः। चरन्दीक्षां महातेजा दुश्चरामकृतात्मभिः
Performing ablutions at sacred places, he roamed everywhere, undertaking discipline with great energy, difficult for those lacking self-control.