The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 1.49: ekonapañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.49.1

sūta uvāca |
tata āhūya putraṃ svaṃ jaratkārurbhujaṃgamā |
vāsukernāgarājasya vacanādidamabravīt || 1 ||

"Sauti said, 'Then the snake-dame Jaratkaru, calling her own son, told him the following words according to the directions of Vasuki, the king of the snakes. 'O son, the time is come for the accomplishment of that object for which I was bestowed on thy father by my brother. Therefore, do thou that which should be done.'

1.49.2

ahaṃ tava pituḥ putra bhrātrā dattā nimittataḥ |
kālaḥ sa cāyaṃ saṃprāptastatkuruṣva yathātatham || 2 ||

1.49.3

āstīka uvāca |
kiṃnimittaṃ mama piturdattā tvaṃ mātulena me |
tanmamācakṣva tattvena śrutvā kartāsmi tattathā || 3 ||

"Astika asked, 'Why wert thou, O mother, bestowed on my father by my uncle? Tell me all truly so that on hearing it, I may do what is proper.'

1.49.4

sūta uvāca |
tata ācaṣṭa sā tasmai bāndhavānāṃ hitaiṣiṇī |
bhaginī nāgarājasya jaratkāruraviklavā || 4 ||

"Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of the snakes, herself unmoved by the general distress, and even desirous of the welfare of her relatives, said unto him, 'O son, it is said that the mother of all the snakes is Kadru. Know thou why she cursed in anger her sons.' Addressing the snakes she said, 'As ye have refused to falsely represent Uchchaihsravas, the prince of horses, for bringing about Vinata's bondage according to the wager, therefore, shall he whose charioteer is Vayu burn you all in Janamejaya's sacrifice. And perishing in that sacrifice, ye shall go to the region of the unredeemed spirits.' The Grandsire of all the worlds spake unto her while uttering this curse, 'Be it so,' and thus approved of her speech. Vasuki, having heard that curse and then the words of the Grandsire, sought the protection of the gods, O child, on the occasion when the amrita was being churned for. And the gods, their object fulfilled, for they had obtained the excellent amrita, with Vasuki ahead, approached the Grandsire. And all the gods, with king Vasuki, sought to incline Him who was born of the lotus to be propitious, so that the curse might be made abortive.'

1.49.5

bhujagānāmaśeṣāṇāṃ mātā kadrūriti śrutiḥ |
tayā śaptā ruṣitayā sutā yasmānnibodha tat || 5 ||

1.49.6

uccaiḥśravāḥ so'śvarājo yanmithyā na kṛto mama |
vinatānimittaṃ paṇite dāsabhāvāya putrakāḥ || 6 ||

1.49.7

janamejayasya vo yajñe dhakṣyatyanilasārathiḥ |
tatra pañcatvamāpannāḥ pretalokaṃ gamiṣyatha || 7 ||

1.49.8

tāṃ ca śaptavatīmevaṃ sākṣāllokapitāmahaḥ |
evamastviti tadvākyaṃ provācānumumoda ca || 8 ||

1.49.9

vāsukiścāpi tacchrutvā pitāmahavacastadā |
amṛte mathite tāta devāñśaraṇamīyivān || 9 ||

1.49.10

siddhārthāśca surāḥ sarve prāpyāmṛtamanuttamam |
bhrātaraṃ me puraskṛtya prajāpatimupāgaman || 10 ||

1.49.11

te taṃ prasādayāmāsurdevāḥ sarve pitāmaham |
rājñā vāsukinā sārdhaṃ sa śāpo na bhavediti || 11 ||

1.49.12

vāsukirnāgarājo'yaṃ duḥkhito jñātikāraṇāt |
abhiśāpaḥ sa mātrāsya bhagavanna bhavediti || 12 ||

"And the gods said, 'O Lord, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, is sorry on account of his relatives. How may his mother's curse prove abortive?'

1.49.13

brahmovāca |
jaratkārurjaratkāruṃ yāṃ bhāryāṃ samavāpsyati |
tatra jāto dvijaḥ śāpādbhujagānmokṣayiṣyati || 13 ||

"Brahman thereupon replied, saying, 'Jaratkaru will take unto himself a wife of the name of Jaratkaru; the Brahmana born of her will relieve the snakes.'

1.49.14

jaratkāruruvāca |
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ vāsukiḥ pannageśvaraḥ |
prādānmāmamaraprakhya tava pitre mahātmane |
prāgevānāgate kāle tatra tvaṃ mayyajāyathāḥ || 14 ||

"Vasuki, the best of snakes, hearing those words, bestowed me, O thou of godlike looks, on thy high-souled father some time before the commencement of the sacrifice. And from that marriage thou art born of me. That time has come. It behoveth thee to protect us from this danger. It behoveth thee to protect my brother and myself from the fire, so that the object, viz., our relief, for which I was bestowed on thy wise father, may not be unfulfilled. What dost thou think, O son?'

1.49.15

ayaṃ sa kālaḥ saṃprāpto bhayānnastrātumarhasi |
bhrātaraṃ caiva me tasmāttrātumarhasi pāvakāt || 15 ||

1.49.16

amoghaṃ naḥ kṛtaṃ tatsyādyadahaṃ tava dhīmate |
pitre dattā vimokṣārthaṃ kathaṃ vā putra manyase || 16 ||

1.49.17

sūta uvāca |
evamuktastathetyuktvā so'stīko mātaraṃ tadā |
abravīdduḥkhasaṃtaptaṃ vāsukiṃ jīvayanniva || 17 ||

"Sauti continued, 'Thus addressed, Astika said unto his mother, 'Yes, I will.' And he then addressed the afflicted Vasuki, and as if infusing life into him, said, 'O Vasuki, thou best of snakes, thou great being, truly do I say, I shall relieve thee from that curse. Be easy, O snake! There is no fear any longer. I shall strive earnestly so that good may come! Nobody hath ever said that my speech, even in jest, hath proved false. Hence on serious occasions like this, I need not say anything more, O uncle, going thither today I shall gratify, with words mixed with blessings, the monarch Janamejaya installed at the sacrifice, so that, O excellent one, the sacrifice may stop. O highminded one, O king of the snakes, believe all that I say. Believe me, my resolve can never be unfulfilled.'

1.49.18

ahaṃ tvāṃ mokṣayiṣyāmi vāsuke pannagottama |
tasmācchāpānmahāsattva satyametadbravīmi te || 18 ||

1.49.19

bhava svasthamanā nāga na hi te vidyate bhayam |
prayatiṣye tathā saumya yathā śreyo bhaviṣyati |
na me vāganṛtaṃ prāha svaireṣvapi kuto'nyathā || 19 ||

1.49.20

taṃ vai nṛpavaraṃ gatvā dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam |
vāgbhirmaṅgalayuktābhistoṣayiṣye'dya mātula |
yathā sa yajño nṛpaternirvartiṣyati sattama || 20 ||

1.49.21

sa saṃbhāvaya nāgendra mayi sarvaṃ mahāmate |
na te mayi mano jātu mithyā bhavitumarhati || 21 ||

1.49.22

vāsukiruvāca |
āstīka parighūrṇāmi hṛdayaṃ me vidīryate |
diśaśca na prajānāmi brahmadaṇḍanipīḍitaḥ || 22 ||

"And Vasuki then said, 'O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks. I cannot discern the points of the earth, as I am afflicted with a mother's curse.'

1.49.23

āstīka uvāca |
na saṃtāpastvayā kāryaḥ kathaṃcitpannagottama |
dīptādagneḥ samutpannaṃ nāśayiṣyāmi te bhayam || 23 ||

"And Astika said, 'Thou best of snakes, it behoveth thee not to grieve any longer. I shall dispel this fear of thine from the blazing fire. This terrible punishment, capable of burning like the fire at the end of the Yuga, I shall extinguish. Nurse not thy fear any longer.'

1.49.24

brahmadaṇḍaṃ mahāghoraṃ kālāgnisamatejasam |
nāśayiṣyāmi mātra tvaṃ bhayaṃ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana || 24 ||

1.49.25

sūta uvāca |
tataḥ sa vāsukerghoramapanīya manojvaram |
ādhāya cātmano'ṅgeṣu jagāma tvarito bhṛśam || 25 ||

"Sauti continued, 'Then that best of Brahmanas, Astika, quelling the terrible fear of the Vasuki's heart, and taking it, as it were, on himself, wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to Janamejaya's sacrifice blessed with every merit. And Astika having gone thither, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound with numerous Sadasyas on it whose splendour was like unto that of the Sun or Agni. But that best of Brahmanas was refused admittance by the door-keepers. And the mighty ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial compound. And that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of all virtuous men, having entered the excellent sacrificial compound, began to adore the king of infinite achievements, Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred fire.'"

1.49.26

janamejayasya taṃ yajñaṃ sarvaiḥ samuditaṃ guṇaiḥ |
mokṣāya bhujagendrāṇāmāstīko dvijasattamaḥ || 26 ||

1.49.27

sa gatvāpaśyadāstīko yajñāyatanamuttamam |
vṛtaṃ sadasyairbahubhiḥ sūryavahnisamaprabhaiḥ || 27 ||

1.49.28

sa tatra vārito dvāḥsthaiḥ praviśandvijasattamaḥ |
abhituṣṭāva taṃ yajñaṃ praveśārthī dvijottamaḥ || 28 ||