Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.13
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1.13.1
किमर्थं राजशार्दूलः स राजा जनमेजयः ।
सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतोऽन्तं तद्वदस्व मे ॥ १.१३.१ ॥
For what reason did that tiger among kings, King Janamejaya, come to the end of the snakes through the snake sacrifice? Tell me that.
1.13.2
निखिलेन यथातत्त्वं सौते सर्वमशेषतः ।
आस्तीकश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठः किमर्थं जपतां वरः ॥ १.१३.२ ॥
O Sauti, tell everything truly, completely, without remainder. Why is Āstīka, best of the twice-born, the foremost among those who recite?
1.13.3
मोक्षयामास भुजगान्प्रदीप्ताद्वसुरेतसः ।
कस्य पुत्रः स राजासीत्सर्पसत्रं य आहरत् ॥ १.१३.३ ॥
He freed the snakes from the blazing fire of Vasu-retas (Agni). Whose son was that king who brought about the snake sacrifice?
1.13.4
स च द्विजातिप्रवरः कस्य पुत्रोऽभिधत्स्व मे ।
महदाक्यानमास्तीकं यथैतत्प्रोच्यते द्विज ॥ १.१३.४ ॥
And whose son was that foremost of the twice-born? Tell me. O twice-born, tell the great story of Āstīka just as it is told.
1.13.5
सर्वमेतदशेषेण शृणु मे वदतां वर ।
श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषेण कथामेतां मनोरमाम् ॥ १.१३.५ ॥
O best of speakers, listen to all of this from me without remainder. I wish to hear this delightful story completely.
1.13.6
आस्तीकस्य पुराणर्षेर्ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनः ।
इतिहासमिमं विप्राः पुराणं परिचक्षते ॥ १.१३.६ ॥
This is the history of Āstīka, the renowned ancient sage and Brahmin. O brahmins, they call this ancient lore.
1.13.7
कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिषु ।
पूर्वं प्रचोदितः सूतः पिता मे लोमहर्षणः ॥ १.१३.७ ॥
This tale, recited by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, was first told to the sages dwelling in the Naimiṣa forest by my father, the bard Lomaharṣaṇa.
1.13.8
शिष्यो व्यासस्य मेधावी ब्राह्मणेष्विदमुक्तवान् ।
तस्मादहमुपश्रुत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम् ॥ १.१३.८ ॥
The wise disciple of Vyāsa recited this among the brahmins. Therefore, having heard it, I shall relate it exactly as it is.
1.13.9
इदमास्तीकमाख्यानं तुभ्यं शौनक पृच्छते ।
कथयिष्याम्यशेषेण सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ १.१३.९ ॥
O Śaunaka, since you ask, I shall relate to you in full this tale of Āstīka, which destroys all sins.
1.13.10
आस्तीकस्य पिता ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिसमः प्रभुः ।
ब्रह्मचारी यताहारस्तपस्युग्रे रतः सदा ॥ १.१३.१० ॥
The father of Āstīka was indeed a lord equal to Prajāpati. A celibate student, restrained in his diet, he was always devoted to fierce asceticism.
1.13.11
जरत्कारुरिति ख्यात ऊर्ध्वरेता महातपाः ।
यायावराणां प्रवरो धर्मज्ञः संशितव्रतः ॥ १.१३.११ ॥
He was renowned by the name Jaratkāru, a celibate of great asceticism, foremost among the Yāyāvaras, a knower of dharma, firm in his vows.
1.13.12
स कदाचिन्महाभागस्तपोबलसमन्वितः ।
चचार पृथिवीं सर्वां यत्रसायंगृहो मुनिः ॥ १.१३.१२ ॥
That greatly fortunate sage, endowed with the strength of asceticism, once wandered over the entire earth, having his home wherever evening found him.
1.13.13
तीर्थेषु च समाप्लावं कुर्वन्नटति सर्वशः ।
चरन्दीक्षां महातेजा दुश्चरामकृतात्मभिः ॥ १.१३.१३ ॥
The mighty-radiant one wandered, bathing in the holy fords everywhere, keeping the difficult vow that those without self-control cannot perform.
1.13.14
वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुष्यन्ननिमिषो मुनिः ।
इतस्ततः परिचरन्दीप्तपावकसप्रभः ॥ १.१३.१४ ॥
The sage, living on air and fasting, withering away with unblinking eyes, moved here and there, radiant like a blazing fire.
1.13.15
अटमानः कदाचित्स्वान्स ददर्श पितामहान् ।
लम्बमानान्महागर्ते पादैरूर्ध्वैरवाङ्मुखान् ॥ १.१३.१५ ॥
Once, while wandering, he saw his forefathers hanging in a great pit, their feet upward and their faces downward.
1.13.16
तानब्रवीत्स दृष्ट्वै जरत्कारुः पितामहान् ।
के भवन्तोऽवलम्बन्ते गर्ते ह्यस्मिन्नधोमुखाः ॥ १.१३.१६ ॥
Seeing them, Jaratkāru spoke to his forefathers: 'Who are you, hanging head-down in this pit?'
1.13.17
वीरणस्तम्भके लग्नाः सर्वतः परिभक्षिते ।
मूषकेन निगूढेन गर्तेऽस्मिन्नित्यवासिना ॥ १.१३.१७ ॥
Clinging to the stalk of the vīraṇa grass, gnawed on all sides by a hidden rat that always dwells in this pit.
1.13.18
यायावरा नाम वयमृषयः संशितव्रताः ।
संतानप्रक्षयाद्ब्रह्मन्नधो गच्छाम मेदिनीम् ॥ १.१३.१८ ॥
We are sages named Yāyāvaras, of rigorous vows. O Brahmin, because our progeny has failed, we are going down beneath the earth.
1.13.19
अस्माकं संततिस्त्वेको जरत्कारुरिति स्मृतः ।
मन्दभाग्योऽल्पभाग्यानां तप एकं समास्थितः ॥ १.१३.१९ ॥
Our line rests on one alone, known as Jaratkāru. Ill-fated among the unfortunate, he has taken up austerity by himself.
1.13.20
न स पुत्राञ्जनयितुं दारान्मूढश्चिकीर्षति ।
तेन लम्बामहे गर्ते संतानस्य क्षयादिह ॥ १.१३.२० ॥
That fool does not wish to take wives to beget sons; therefore, through the ruin of our line, we hang here in the pit.
1.13.21
अनाथास्तेन नाथेन यथा दुष्कृतिनस्तथा ।
येषां तु संततिर्नास्ति मर्त्यलोके सुखावहा ॥ १.१३.२१ ॥
Because of him we are unprotected, as evil-doers are without a protector; so are those for whom there is no offspring bringing happiness in the mortal world.
1.13.22
न ते लभन्ते वसतिं स्वर्गे पुण्यकृतोऽपि हि ।
कस्त्वं बन्धुरिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम ॥ १.१३.२२ ॥
Even those who have done meritorious deeds do not obtain a dwelling in heaven. Best of the good, who are you that grieve for us as if you were our kinsman?
1.13.23
ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्को भवानिह नः स्थितः ।
किमर्थं चैव नः शोच्याननुशोचसि सत्तम ॥ १.१३.२३ ॥
Brahmin, we wish to know who you are, standing here before us. Why do you grieve for us, who are worthy of grief? Best of the good!
1.13.24
मम पूर्वे भवन्तो वै पितरः सपितामहाः ।
ब्रूत किं करवाण्यद्य जरत्कारुरहं स्वयम् ॥ १.१३.२४ ॥
You are my ancestors, fathers and forefathers. Tell me, what shall I do today? I myself am Jaratkāru.
1.13.25
यतस्व यत्नवांस्तात संतानाय कुलस्य नः ।
आत्मनोऽर्थेऽस्मदर्थे च धर्म इत्येव वा विभो ॥ १.१३.२५ ॥
Dear son, strive diligently for the continuation of our family line. For yourself and for us, this is dharma, O mighty one.
1.13.26
न हि धर्मफलैस्तात न तपोऽभिः सुसंचितैः ।
तां गतिं प्राप्नुवन्तीह पुत्रिणो यां व्रजन्ति वै ॥ १.१३.२६ ॥
Dear son, not even by the fruits of dharma nor by well-accumulated austerities does one attain that destination which those who have sons reach here.
1.13.27
तद्दारग्रहणे यत्नं संतत्यां च मनः कुरु ।
पुत्रकास्मन्नियोगात्त्वमेतन्नः परमं हितम् ॥ १.१३.२७ ॥
Therefore strive to take a wife and set your mind on offspring. Dear son, by our command this is our supreme welfare.
1.13.28
न दारान्वै करिष्येऽहं न धनं जीवितार्थतः ।
भवतां तु हितार्थाय करिष्ये दारसंग्रहम् ॥ १.१३.२८ ॥
I will not take wives, nor wealth, for the sake of my own living. But for your welfare, I will take a wife.
1.13.29
समयेन च कर्ताऽहमनेन विधिपूर्वकम् ।
तथा यद्युपलप्स्यामि करिष्ये नान्यथा ह्यहम् ॥ १.१३.२९ ॥
I will do this by this agreement, according to rule. If I obtain such a wife, I will do so; otherwise I will not do it.
1.13.30
सनाम्नी या भवित्री मे दित्सिता चैव बन्धुभिः ।
भैक्ष्यवत्तामहं कन्यामुपयंस्ये विधानतः ॥ १.१३.३० ॥
The maiden who shall bear my own name, and whom my kinsmen wish to give me, I will take in marriage according to rule, as one receives alms.
1.13.31
दरिद्राय हि मे भार्यां को दास्यति विशेषतः ।
प्रतिग्रहीष्ये भिक्षां तु यदि कश्चित्प्रदास्यति ॥ १.१३.३१ ॥
Who, especially, will give a wife to a poor man like me? If anyone gives one, I will accept her only as alms.
1.13.32
एवं दारक्रियाहेतोः प्रयतिष्ये पितामहाः ।
अनेन विधिना शश्वन्न करिष्येऽहमन्यथा ॥ १.१३.३२ ॥
Thus, for the sake of obtaining a wife, I will strive, O grandfathers. I will always act by this method and not otherwise.
1.13.33
तत्र चोत्पत्स्यते जन्तुर्भवतां तारणाय वै ।
शाश्वतं स्थानमासाद्य मोदन्तां पितरो मम ॥ १.१३.३३ ॥
There a creature will be born for your deliverance. Having reached an eternal place, may my ancestors rejoice.