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.
मात्रा हि भुजगाः शप्ताः पूर्वं ब्रह्मविदां वर। जनमेजयस्य वो यज्ञे धक्ष्यत्यनिलसारथिः
Once, the serpents were cursed by their mother, O best of those who know Brahman, that in Janamejaya's sacrifice, the Wind-charioteer would burn you.
तस्य शापस्य शान्त्यर्थं प्रददौ पन्नगोत्तमः। स्वसारमृषये तस्मै सुव्रताय महात्मने
To appease that curse, the best of serpents gave his sister to the sage, that great-souled, virtuous one.
स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। आस्तीको नाम पुत्रश्च तस्यां जज्ञे महामनाः
And he accepted her in accordance with the prescribed rite; from her was born a son named Astika, of great mind.
तपस्वी च महात्मा च वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः। समः सर्वस्य लोकस्य पितृमातृभयापहः
He was an ascetic, great-souled, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, impartial to all beings, and a remover of fear from both father and mother.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पाण्डवेयो नराधिपः। आजहार महायज्ञं सर्पसत्रमिति श्रुतिः
Then, after a long time, the Pandava king performed a great sacrifice, known as the snake-sacrifice, as is heard.
तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते सत्रे तु सर्पाणामन्तकाय वै। मोचयामास ताञ्शापादास्तीकः सुमहातपाः
When that sacrifice commenced, intended for the destruction of the serpents, Astika, of great austerity, released them from the curse.
भ्रातॄंश्च मातुलांश्चैव तथैवान्यान्स पन्नगान्। पितॄंश्च तारयामास संतत्या तपसा तथा
He saved his brothers, maternal uncles, and other serpents as well, and also his ancestors, by means of progeny and austerity.
व्रतैश्च विविधैर्ब्रह्मन्स्वाध्यायैश्चानृणोऽभवत्। देवांश्च तर्पयामास यज्ञैर्विविधदक्षिणैः
By various vows and self-study, O Brahman, he became free of debt, and he satisfied the gods with sacrifices and diverse gifts.
ऋषींश्च ब्रह्मचर्येम सन्तत्या च पितामहान्। अपहृत्य गुरं भारं पितॄणां संशितव्रतः
Having fulfilled the duties of celibacy and perpetuated his lineage, and having relieved the heavy burden of his ancestors, steadfast in his vows—
जरत्कारुर्गतः स्वर्गं सहितः स्वैः पितामहैः। आस्तीकं च सुतं प्राप्य धर्मं चानुत्तमं मुनिः
Jaratkaru attained heaven together with his forefathers, having obtained Āstīka as a son and accomplished supreme righteousness, O sage.