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.
मम पूर्वे भवन्तो वै पितरः सपितामहाः। ब्रूत किं करवाण्यद्य जरत्कारुरहं स्वयम्
My ancestors, fathers and grandfathers, you are present here; tell me, what should I do today, for I am Jaratkaru myself.
यतस्व यत्नवांस्तात संतानाय कुलस्य नः। आत्मनोऽर्थेऽस्मदर्थे च धर्म इत्येव वा विभो
Exert yourself with effort, dear one, for the continuation of our lineage—whether for your own sake, for ours, or simply for the sake of righteousness, O noble one.
न हि धर्मफलैस्तात न तपोऽभिः सुसंचितैः। तां गतिं प्राप्नुवन्तीह पुत्रिणो यां व्रजन्ति वै
Indeed, O dear one, neither by the fruits of righteousness nor by well-performed austerities do those without sons attain that state which fathers of sons reach.
तद्दारग्रहणे यत्नं संतत्यां च मनः कुरु। पुत्रकास्मन्नियोगात्त्वमेतन्नः परमं हितम्
Therefore, make effort in taking a wife and set your mind on progeny; by our instruction, my son, this is the highest good for us.
न दारान्वै करिष्येऽहं न धनं जीवितार्थतः। भवतां तु हितार्थाय करिष्ये दारसंग्रहम्
I will not take a wife for my own sake, nor for wealth or the sake of life; but for your benefit, I will undertake marriage.
समयेन च कर्ताऽहमनेन विधिपूर्वकम्। तथा यद्युपलप्स्यामि करिष्ये नान्यथा ह्यहम्
And I will do so in accordance with this condition and proper rule; if I obtain such a wife, I will marry—otherwise, I will not.
सनाम्नी या भवित्री मे दित्सिता चैव बन्धुभिः। भैक्ष्यवत्तामहं कन्यामुपयंस्ये विधानतः
A maiden bearing my name, offered willingly by her relatives, and living as an ascetic—I will marry such a girl, as prescribed.
दरिद्राय हि मे भार्यां को दास्यति विशेषतः। प्रतिग्रहीष्ये भिक्षां तु यदि कश्चित्प्रदास्यति
For who would give a wife especially to one as poor as I? But if someone offers her as alms, I will accept.
एवं दारक्रियाहेतोः प्रयतिष्ये पितामहाः। अनेन विधिना शश्वन्न करिष्येऽहमन्यथा
Thus, for the sake of marriage, I will strive, O ancestors, and by this rule alone—never otherwise—will I act.
तत्र चोत्पत्स्यते जन्तुर्भवतां तारणाय वै। शाश्वतं स्थानमासाद्य मोदन्तां पितरो मम
From that union, a being will be born for your deliverance; having attained an eternal place, may my ancestors rejoice.