Critical Edition
शौनक उवाच किमर्थं राजशार्दूलः स राजा जनमेजयः सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतोऽन्तं तद्वदस्व मे
M. N. Dutt: Shaunaka said: son was Why did that best of kings, king Janamejaya, resolve to destroy the snakes in a Snake-sacrifice?
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.1 After 1, Ñ V1 B (except B4) D (except Da D2.5) ins.: *248 निखिलेन यथातत्त्वं सौते सर्वमशेषतः
आस्तीकश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठः किमर्थं जपतां वरः मोक्षयामास भुजगान्दीप्तात्तस्माद्धुताशनात्
AI Translation: And why was the best of Brahmanas, Astika, the best of those who mutter prayers, able to save the serpents from the blazing fire?
कस्य पुत्रः स राजासीत्सर्पसत्रं य आहरत् स च द्विजातिप्रवरः कस्य पुत्रो वदस्व मे
M. N. Dutt: Whose the monarch who performed the Snake-sacrifice? Whose son was that best of the twice-born, (who saved the snakes)? Tell us this.
सूत उवाच महदाख्यानमास्तीकं यत्रैतत्प्रोच्यते द्विज सर्वमेतदशेषेण शृणु मे वदतां वर
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: O best of speakers, the story of Astika is very long, I shall relate it in full. O Listen.
शौनक उवाच श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषेण कथामेतां मनोरमाम् आस्तीकस्य पुराणस्य ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनः
M. N. Dutt: Shaunaka said : I am desirous of hearing in detail the interesting story of Astika, the illustrious Brahmana.
सूत उवाच इतिहासमिमं वृद्धाः पुराणं परिचक्षते कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: m The Brahmanas call this history, recited by Krishna Dvaipayana, a Purana, to the dwellers of Naimisharanya.
पूर्वं प्रचोदितः सूतः पिता मे लोमहर्षणः शिष्यो व्यासस्य मेधावी ब्राह्मणैरिदमुक्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: It was formerly narrated by my learned father Lomaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, as requested by the Brahmanas.
तस्मादहमुपश्रुत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम् इदमास्तीकमाख्यानं तुभ्यं शौनक पृच्छते
M. N. Dutt: I was present at the time, O Shaunaka, As you ask me, I shall recite it exactly as I heard it.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.8 After 8, N G (except G3.6) ins.: *249 कथयिष्याम्यशेषेण सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
आस्तीकस्य पिता ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिसमः प्रभुः ब्रह्मचारी यताहारस्तपस्युग्रे रतः सदा
AI Translation: The father of Āṣṭīka was a lord equal to Prajāpati. He was a celibate, controlled in diet, always engaged in fierce austerities.
जरत्कारुरिति ख्यात ऊर्ध्वरेता महानृषिः यायावराणां धर्मज्ञः प्रवरः संशितव्रतः
AI Translation: The great sage named Jaratkaru, who was celibate, was the foremost of the Yavanas, learned in dharma, and of firm vows.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.10 After 10, K3 (om. lines 1-5) Ñ V1 B Da Dn D1-4.5 (om. line 1).6.7 ins.: *250 स कदाचिन्महाभागस्तपोबलसमन्वितः चचार पृथिवीं सर्वां यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः तीर्थेषु च समाप्लावं कुर्वन्नटति सर्वशः चरन्दीक्षां महातेजा दुश्चरामकृतात्मभिः वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुष्यन्ननिमिषो मुनिः इतस्ततः परिचरन्दीप्तपावकसप्रभः
अटमानः कदाचित्स स्वान्ददर्श पितामहान् लम्बमानान्महागर्ते पादैरूर्ध्वैरधोमुखान्
AI Translation: Wandering about, he once saw his ancestors hanging in a great chasm, their feet up and their faces down.
तानब्रवीत्स दृष्ट्वैव जरत्कारुः पितामहान् के भवन्तोऽवलम्बन्ते गर्तेऽस्मिन्वा अधोमुखाः
AI Translation: Seeing them, Jaratkaru, the grandfather, said to them: "Who are you, hanging upside down in this pit?""
वीरणस्तम्बके लग्नाः सर्वतः परिभक्षिते मूषकेन निगूढेन गर्तेऽस्मिन्नित्यवासिना
M. N. Dutt: “Who are you thus hanging in the hole, your heads downward, by a rope of the Virana fibre which has been eaten by the rats that live secretly near this hole?"
पितर ऊचुः यायावरा नाम वयमृषयः संशितव्रताः संतानप्रक्षयाद्ब्रह्मन्नधो गच्छाम मेदिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: The Ancestors said : We are Rishis of austere penances, called Yayavaras. We are sinking down into the earth for want of an offspring.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.14 K4 ins. after 14: D3.4.6.7, after 17ab: *251 येषां तु संततिर्नास्ति मर्त्यलोके सुखावहा न ते लभन्ते वसतिं स्वर्गे पुण्यव्रता अपि
अस्माकं संततिस्त्वेको जरत्कारुरिति श्रुतः मन्दभाग्योऽल्पभाग्यानां तप एव समास्थितः
M. N. Dutt: We have a son, named Jaratkaru. Unfortunate we are, that wretch has adopted asceticism.
न स पुत्राञ्जनयितुं दारान्मूढश्चिकीर्षति तेन लम्बामहे गर्ते संतानप्रक्षयादिह
M. N. Dutt: And therefore that fool does not think of marriage to raise up offspring. It is for this reason, namely for the want of offspring that we are thus suspended in the hole.
अनाथास्तेन नाथेन यथा दुष्कृतिनस्तथा कस्त्वं बन्धुरिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Having means, we are like sinners who have no means. O excellent man, who are you that are sorrowing for us like a friend?
ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्को भवानिह धिष्ठितः किमर्थं चैव नः शोच्याननुकम्पितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana, we wish to know who you are that stand near us and why? O excellent iman, are you sorrowing for us?
जरत्कारुरुवाच मम पूर्वे भवन्तो वै पितरः सपितामहाः ब्रूत किं करवाण्यद्य जरत्कारुरहं स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Jaratkaru said: You are my sires and grand-sires. I am that very Jaratkaru. Tell me what I should do.
पितर ऊचुः यतस्व यत्नवांस्तात संतानाय कुलस्य नः आत्मनोऽर्थेऽस्मदर्थे च धर्म इत्येव चाभिभो
M. N. Dutt: The Ancestors said : Try your best to do that by which you can raise up an offspring to extend our line. You will then do an act meritorious both for you and for us.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.20 After pitara ūcuḥ, D4.6.7 ins.: *252 पितरस्ते वयं तात संतारय कुलं स्वयम्
न हि धर्मफलैस्तात न तपोभिः सुसंचितैः तां गतिं प्राप्नुवन्तीह पुत्रिणो यां व्रजन्ति ह
M. N. Dutt: O Son, not by the fruits of virtue, nor by the hoarded-up ascetic penances, does one acquire such merit as is acquired by one who is a father.
तद्दारग्रहणे यत्नं संतत्यां च मनः कुरु पुत्रकास्मन्नियोगात्त्वमेतन्नः परमं हितम्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O son, set your mind upon marriage and offspring at our command. It will do us the highest good.
जरत्कारुरुवाच न दारान्वै करिष्यामि सदा मे भावितं मनः भवतां तु हितार्थाय करिष्ये दारसंग्रहम्
M. N. Dutt: Jaratkaru said : I shall not marry, nor shall I earn money for my own self. But I shall marry to do you good.
समयेन च कर्ताहमनेन विधिपूर्वकम् तथा यद्युपलप्स्यामि करिष्ये नान्यथा त्वहम्
AI Translation: And I will do it at the proper time, according to the prescribed method. And if I find it, I will do it, and not otherwise.
सनाम्नी या भवित्री मे दित्सिता चैव बन्धुभिः भैक्षवत्तामहं कन्यामुपयंस्ये विधानतः
AI Translation: "The girl who is to be my wife, who is desired by my relatives, I shall take her in accordance with the rules, as a beggar."
दरिद्राय हि मे भार्यां को दास्यति विशेषतः प्रतिग्रहीष्ये भिक्षां तु यदि कश्चित्प्रदास्यति
M. N. Dutt: But who will give his daughter to a poor man like me to be my wife? I shall, however, accept the girl who will be given to me as gift.
एवं दारक्रियाहेतोः प्रयतिष्ये पितामहाः अनेन विधिना शश्वन्न करिष्येऽहमन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: O sires, I shall try to marry such a girl. Having said so, I shall not act otherwise.
तत्र चोत्पत्स्यते जन्तुर्भवतां तारणाय वै शाश्वतं स्थानमासाद्य मोदन्तां पितरो मम
M. N. Dutt: O fathers, I shall beget offspring on her for your release, so that you may attain to the heaven, called Shashvata and rejoice there at will.
सूत उवाच ततो निवेशाय तदा स विप्रः संशितव्रतः महीं चचार दारार्थी न च दारानविन्दत
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said : The Brahmana of hard austerities (Jaratkaru) roamed over the world for a wife, but he did not get a wife.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.29 After uvāca, K3.4 D2 ins.: *253 इत्युक्तमात्रे वचने तथेत्युक्त्वा पितामहाः अन्तर्धानं गताः सर्वे विस्मयं स ययौ मुनिः
स कदाचिद्वनं गत्वा विप्रः पितृवचः स्मरन् चुक्रोश कन्याभिक्षार्थी तिस्रो वाचः शनैरिव
M. N. Dutt: One day he went into the forest and remembering the words of his ancestors, he thrice begged for a bride in a faint voice.
तं वासुकिः प्रत्यगृह्णादुद्यम्य भगिनीं तदा न स तां प्रतिजग्राह न सनाम्नीति चिन्तयन्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, Vasuki appeared and offered his sister for the Rishi's acceptance. But the Rishi hesitated to accept her, thinking her to be not of the same name with himself.
सनाम्नीमुद्यतां भार्यां गृह्णीयामिति तस्य हि मनो निविष्टमभवज्जरत्कारोर्महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The high-souled Jaratkaru thought within himself, “I will take none for my wife who does not bear my name."
तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञो जरत्कारुर्महातपाः किंनाम्नी भगिनीयं ते ब्रूहि सत्यं भुजंगम
M. N. Dutt: Then Jaratkaru, the great ascetic of rigid austerities, said, “O snake tell me truly what is the name of your sister?”
वासुकिरुवाच जरत्कारो जरत्कारुः स्वसेयमनुजा मम त्वदर्थं रक्षिता पूर्वं प्रतीच्छेमां द्विजोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Vasuki said: O Jaratkaru, my sister's name is also Jaratkaru. Given as a gift by me, accept this girl of slender waist for your wife. O best of the twice born, I had kept her in reserve for you. Therefore, take her.
Supplementary Passages:
1.13.34 After 34ab, N (except Ñ1 B1.4 Da) ins.: *254 प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भार्यार्थे मया दत्तां सुमध्यमाम् K Ñ V1 B1 (marg.).2.5 D (except Da) G (except G3.6) ins. after 34: B3 marg., after 36: *255 एवमुक्त्वा ततः प्रादाद्भार्यार्थे वरवर्णिनीम्
सूत उवाच मात्रा हि भुजगाः शप्ताः पूर्वं ब्रह्मविदां वर जनमेजयस्य वो यज्ञे धक्ष्यत्यनिलसारथिः
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said : O foremost of Brahma knowing men, the mother of the snakes, in the days of yore, cursed the Naga race, saying, "He whose charioteer is wind (Agni) will consume you at Janamejaya's sacrifice.
तस्य शापस्य शान्त्यर्थं प्रददौ पन्नगोत्तमः स्वसारमृषये तस्मै सुव्रताय तपस्विने
M. N. Dutt: To neutralise ve effect of that curse, the best of snakes (Vasuki) married off his sister to the high-souled Rishi of rigid vow.
स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा आस्तीको नाम पुत्रश्च तस्यां जज्ञे महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Accepting her according to the ordained rites, he begot on her a high-souled son, called Astika,
तपस्वी च महात्मा च वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः समः सर्वस्य लोकस्य पितृमातृभयापहः
M. N. Dutt: Who was a great ascetic, who was vastly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, who removed the fears of his parents and who saw everything with an equal eye.
अथ कालस्य महतः पाण्डवेयो नराधिपः आजहार महायज्ञं सर्पसत्रमिति श्रुतिः
M. N. Dutt: Then after a long time, a descendant of the Pandavas, celebrated a great sacrifice, known as the Snake-sacrifice.
तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते सत्रे तु सर्पाणामन्तकाय वै मोचयामास तं शापमास्तीकः सुमहायशाः
M. N. Dutt: When the sacrifice for the destruction of the snakes had begun, the great ascetic Astika rescued the Nagas,
नागांश्च मातुलांश्चैव तथा चान्यान्स बान्धवान् पितॄंश्च तारयामास संतत्या तपसा तथा व्रतैश्च विविधैर्ब्रह्मन्स्वाध्यायैश्चानृणोऽभवत्
AI Translation: He also liberated his maternal uncles and other relatives, and his ancestors, through his offspring and austerities. And through various vows, Brahmana, and through studying the Vedas, he became free from debt.
देवांश्च तर्पयामास यज्ञैर्विविधदक्षिणैः ऋषींश्च ब्रह्मचर्येण संतत्या च पितामहान्
AI Translation: He satisfied the gods with sacrifices with various gifts, and the sages with celibacy and progeny.
अपहृत्य गुरुं भारं पितॄणां संशितव्रतः जरत्कारुर्गतः स्वर्गं सहितः स्वैः पितामहैः
AI Translation: Having removed the heavy burden of his ancestors, the one of firm vows, Jaratkaru went to heaven together with his ancestors.
आस्तीकं च सुतं प्राप्य धर्मं चानुत्तमं मुनिः जरत्कारुः सुमहता कालेन स्वर्गमीयिवान्
AI Translation: Having obtained his son Āṣṭaka and the supreme Dharma, the sage Jaratkāru went to heaven after a very long time.
एतदाख्यानमास्तीकं यथावत्कीर्तितं मया प्रब्रूहि भृगुशार्दूल किं भूयः कथ्यतामिति
AI Translation: I have thus related the story of Aṣṭīka as it should be. O tiger among Bhrigus, tell me, what more should be said?