आस्तीक पर्व — जरत्कारु और पितरों का संवाद

Shaunaka said: son was Why did that best of kings, king Janamejaya, resolve to destroy the snakes in a Snake-sacrifice?

O Sauti, tell us in full the true story. Why did the best of the twice-born Astika, the foremost of ascetics, rescue the snakes from the blazing fire?

Whose the monarch who performed the Snake-sacrifice? Whose son was that best of the twice-born, (who saved the snakes)? Tell us this.

Sauti said: O best of speakers, the story of Astika is very long, I shall relate it in full. O Listen.

Shaunaka said : I am desirous of hearing in detail the interesting story of Astika, the illustrious Brahmana.

Sauti said: m The Brahmanas call this history, recited by Krishna Dvaipayana, a Purana, to the dwellers of Naimisharanya.

It was formerly narrated by my learned father Lomaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, as requested by the Brahmanas.

I was present at the time, O Shaunaka, As you ask me, I shall recite it exactly as I heard it.

(Listen) to this all sin-destroying history. Astika's father was as powerful as the Prajapati.

He was a Brahmachari, always engaged in austere penances, regular in meals, a great Rishi of controlled sexual desire. He was known by the name of Jaratkaru.

He was the foremost of Yayavaras, a man of rigid vows, highly religious and endowed with great ascetic powers. Once upon a time this great ascetic,

Being Yatra Sayan Griha (living in the place where night overtook him), roamed all over the world, bathed in many sacred waters and visited many holy shrines.

He practised difficult austere penances; and feeding on air, remaining in fast and renouncing sleep forever, he roamed (over the world.)

As bright as a blazing fire, he roamed about and thus roving about, he one day saw his ancestors,

Hanging their heads down in a great hole, their feet pointing upwards. On seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed his ancestors thus,

“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?"

The Ancestors said : We are Rishis of austere penances, called Yayavaras. We are sinking down into the earth for want of an offspring.

We have a son, named Jaratkaru. Unfortunate we are, that wretch has adopted asceticism.

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.

Having means, we are like sinners who have no means. O excellent man, who are you that are sorrowing for us like a friend?

O Brahmana, we wish to know who you are that stand near us and why? O excellent iman, are you sorrowing for us?

Jaratkaru said: You are my sires and grand-sires. I am that very Jaratkaru. Tell me what I should do.

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.

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.

Therefore, O son, set your mind upon marriage and offspring at our command. It will do us the highest good.

Jaratkaru said : I shall not marry, nor shall I earn money for my own self. But I shall marry to do you good.

If a bride can be had whose name will be the same as mine, whose friends will give her to me willingly and as a gift, O fathers, under these conditions, if I get a girl, your command will be obeyed. I shall duly marry her according to the ordinances of the Shastras.

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.

O sires, I shall try to marry such a girl. Having said so, I shall not act otherwise.

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.