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.
वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुष्यन्ननिमिषो मुनिः। इतस्ततः परिचरन्दीप्तपावकसप्रभः
Subsisting on air, without food, drying up, unmoving, the sage wandered here and there, radiant like blazing fire.
अटमानः कदाचित्स्वान्स ददर्श पितामहान्। लम्बमानान्महागर्ते पादैरूर्ध्वैरवाङ्मुखान्
While wandering, he once saw his ancestors hanging in a great pit, their feet upward, faces downward.
तानब्रवीत्स दृष्ट्वै जरत्कारुः पितामहान्। के भवन्तोऽवलम्बन्ते गर्ते ह्यस्मिन्नधोमुखाः
Seeing them, Jaratkāru addressed his ancestors: 'Who are you, hanging in this pit with your faces downward?'
वीरणस्तम्भके लग्नाः सर्वतः परिभक्षिते। मूषकेन निगूढेन गर्तेऽस्मिन्नित्यवासिना
Affixed to a stalk of vīraṇa grass, all around devoured by a hidden mouse dwelling always in this pit.
यायावरा नाम वयमृषयः संशितव्रताः। संतानप्रक्षयाद्ब्रह्मन्नधो गच्छाम मेदिनीम्
We are called Yāyāvaras, sages firm in vows; due to the decline of our lineage, O Brāhmaṇa, we descend to earth.
अस्माकं संततिस्त्वेको जरत्कारुरिति स्मृतः। मन्दभाग्योऽल्पभाग्यानां तप एकं समास्थितः
Of our lineage, only one remains, known as Jaratkāru; of little fortune among the unfortunate, he alone pursues austerity.
न स पुत्राञ्जनयितुं दारान्मूढश्चिकीर्षति। तेन लम्बामहे गर्ते संतानस्य क्षयादिह
He does not wish to produce sons nor to take a wife, being deluded; because of this, we hang in the pit, due to the extinction of our lineage here.
अनाथास्तेन नाथेन यथा दुष्कृतिनस्तथा। `येषां तु संततिर्नास्ति मर्त्यलोके सुखावहा
We are helpless because of that protector, as are the wicked; for those whose lineage does not exist in the mortal world, happiness is lost.
न ते लभन्ते वसतिं स्वर्गे पुण्यकृतोऽपि हि।' कस्त्वं बन्धुरिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम
They do not attain residence in heaven, even if they have performed virtuous deeds; who are you, like a kinsman to us, who grieves for us, O noble one?
ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्को भवानिह नः स्थितः। किमर्थं चैव नः शोच्याननुशोचसि सत्तम
We wish to know, O Brāhmaṇa, who you are here among us; and for what reason, O noble one, you grieve for those worthy of grief.