The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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"The Pitris said, 'Venerable Brahmacharin, thou desirest to relieve us.
But, O foremost of Brahmanas, thou canst not dispel our affliction by thy
asceticism. O child, O first of speakers, we too have the fruits of our
asceticism. But, O Brahmana, it is for the loss of children that we are
falling down into this unholy hell. The grandsire himself hath said that a
son is a great merit. As we are about to be cast in this hole, our ideas
are no longer clear. Therefore, O child, we know thee not, although thy
manhood is well-known on earth. Venerable thou art and of good fortune,
thou who thus from kindness grievest for us worthy of pity and greatly
afflicted. O Brahmana, listen, who we are. We are Rishis of the Yayavara
sect, of rigid vows. And, O Muni, from loss of children, we have fallen
down from a sacred region. Our severe penances have not been destroyed; we
have a thread yet. But we have only one thread now. It matters little,
however, whether he is or is not. Unfortunate as we are, we have a thread
in one, known as Jaratkaru. The unfortunate one has gone through the Vedas
and their branches and is practising asceticism alone. He being one with
soul under complete control, desires set high, observant of vows, deeply
engaged in ascetic penances, and free from greed for the merits or
asceticism, we have been reduced to this deplorable state. He hath no wife,
no son, no relatives. Therefore, do we hang in this hole, our
consciousness lost, like men having none to take care of them. If thou
meetest him, O, tell him, from thy kindness to ourselves, Thy Pitris, in
sorrow, are hanging with faces downwards in a hole. Holy one, take a wife
and beget children. O thou of ascetic wealth, thou art, O amiable one, the
only thread that remaineth in the line of thy ancestors. O Brahmana, the
cord of virana roots that thou seest we are hanging by, is the cord
representing our multiplied race. And, O Brahmana, these threads of the
cord of virana roots that thou seest as eaten away, are ourselves who have
been eaten up by Time. This root thou seest hath been half-eaten and by
which we are hanging in this hole is he that hath adopted asceticism alone.
The rat that thou beholdest is Time of infinite strength. And he (Time) is
gradually weakening the wretch Jaratkaru engaged in ascetic penances
tempted by the merits thereof, but wanting in prudence and heart. O
excellent one, his asceticism cannot save us. Behold, our roots being torn,
cast down from higher regions, deprived of consciousness by Time, we are
going downwards like sinful wretches. And upon our going down into this
hole with all our relatives, eaten up by Time, even he shall sink with us
into hell. O child, whether it is asceticism, or sacrifice, or whatever
else there be of very holy acts, everything is inferior. These cannot
count with a son. O child, having seen all, speak unto that Jaratkaru of
ascetic wealth. Thou shouldst tell him in detail everything that thou hast
beheld. And, O Brahmana, from thy kindness towards us, thou shouldst tell
him all that would induce him to take a wife and beget children. Amongst
his friends, or of our own race, who art thou, O excellent one, that thus
grievest for us all like a friend? We wish to hear who thou art that
stayest here.'"

SECTION XLVI

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said. 'Jaratkaru, hearing all this, became excessively dejected.
And from sorrow he spoke unto those Pitris in words obstructed by tears.'
And Jaratkaru said, 'Ye are even my fathers and grand-fathers gone before.
Therefore, tell me what I must do for your welfare. I am that sinful son
of yours, Jaratkaru! Punish me for my sinful deeds, a wretch that I am.'

"The Pitris replied, saying, 'O son, by good luck hast thou arrived at
this spot in course of thy rambles. O Brahmana, why hast thou not taken a
wife?'

"Jaratkaru said. 'Ye Pitris, this desire hath always existed in my heart
that I would, with vital seed drawn up, carry this body to the other world.
My mind hath been possessed with the idea that I would not take a wife.
But ye grandsires, having seen you hanging like birds, I have diverted my
mind from the Brahmacharya mode of life. I will truly do what you like. I
will certainly marry, if ever I meet with a maiden of my own name. I shall
accept her who, bestowing herself of her own accord, will be as aims unto
me, and whom I shall not have to maintain. I shall marry if I get such a
one; otherwise, I shall not. This is the truth, ye grandsires! And the
offspring that will be begot upon her shall be your salvation. And ye
Pitris of mine, ye shall live for ever in blessedness and without fear.'

'Sauti continued, 'The Muni, having said so unto the Pitris, wandered over
the earth again. And, O Saunaka, being old, he obtained no wife. And he
grieved much that he was not successful. But directed (as before) by his
ancestors, he continued the search. And going into the forest, he wept
loudly in great grief. And having gone into the forest, the wise one,
moved by the desire of doing good to his ancestors, said, 'I will ask for
a bride,' distinctly repeating these words thrice. And he said, 'Whatever
creatures are here, mobile and immobile, so whoever there be that are
invisible, O, hear my words! My ancestors, afflicted with grief, have
directed me that am engaged in the most severe penances, saying, 'Marry
thou for (the acquisition of) a son.' 'O ye, being directed by my
ancestors, I am roaming in poverty and sorrow, over the wide world for
wedding a maiden that I may obtain as alms. Let that creature, amongst
those I have addressed, who hath a daughter, bestow on me that am roaming
far and near. Such a bride as is of same name with me, to be bestowed on
me as alms, and whom, besides, I shall not maintain, O bestow on me!' Then
those snakes that had been set upon Jaratkaru track, ascertaining his
inclination, gave information to Vasuki. And the king of the snakes,
hearing their words, took with him that maiden decked with ornaments, and
went into the forest unto that Rishi. And, O Brahmana, Vasuki, the king of
the snakes, having gone there, offered that maiden as alms unto that high-
souled Rishi. But the Rishi did not at once accept her. And the Rishi,
thinking her not to be of the same name with himself, and seeing that the
question of her maintenance also was unsettled, reflected for a few
moments, hesitating to accept her. And then, O son of Bhrigu, he asked
Vasuki the maiden's name, and also said unto him, 'I shall not maintain
her.'"

SECTION XLVII

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'Then Vasuki spake unto the Rishi Jaratkaru these words, 'O
best of Brahmanas, this maiden is of the same name with thee. She is my
sister and hath ascetic merit. I will maintain thy wife; accept her. O
thou of ascetic wealth, I shall protect her with all my ability. And, O
foremost of the great Munis, she hath been reared by me for thee.' And the
Rishi replied, 'This is agreed between us that I shall not maintain her;
and she shall not do aught that I do not like. If she do, I leave her!'

"Sauti continued, 'When the snake had promised, saying, 'I shall maintain
my sister,' Jaratkaru then went to the snake's house. Then that first of
mantra-knowing Brahmanas, observing rigid vows, that virtuous and veteran
ascetic, took her hand presented to him according to shastric rites. And
taking his bride with him, adored by the great Rishi, he entered the
delightful chamber set apart for him by the king of the snakes. And in
that chamber was a bed-stead covered with very valuable coverlets. And
Jaratkaru lived there with his wife. And the excellent Rishi made an
agreement with his wife, saying, 'Nothing must ever be done or said by
thee that is against my liking. And in case of thy doing any such thing, I
will leave thee and no longer continue to stay in thy house. Bear in mind
these words that have been spoken by me.'

"And then the sister of the king of the snakes in great anxiety and
grieving exceedingly, spoke unto him, saying, 'Be it so.' And moved by the
desire of doing good to her relatives, that damsel, of unsullied
reputation, began to attend upon her lord with the wakefulness of a dog,
the timidity of a deer, and knowledge of signs possessed by the crow. And
one day, after the menstrual period, the sister of Vasuki, having purified
herself by a bath according to custom, approached her lord the great Muni.
And thereupon she conceived. And the embryo was like unto a flame of fire,
possessed of great energy, and resplendent as fire itself. And it grew
like the moon in the bright fortnight.

"And one day, within a short time, Jaratkaru of great fame, placing his
head on the lap of his wife, slept, looking like one fatigued. And as he
was sleeping, the sun entered his chambers in the Western mountain and was
about to set. And, O Brahmana, as the day was fading, she, the excellent
sister of Vasuki, became thoughtful, fearing the loss of her husband's
virtue. And she thought, 'What should I now do? Shall I wake my husband or
not? He is exacting and punctilious in his religious duties. How can I act
as not to offend him? The alternatives are his anger and the loss of
virtue of a virtuous man. The loss of virtue, I ween, is the greater of
the two evils. Again, if I wake him, he will be angry. But if twilight
passeth away without his prayers being said, he shall certainly sustain
loss of virtue.'

'And having resolved at last, the sweet-speeched Jaratkaru, the sister of
Vasuki, spake softly unto that Rishi resplendent with ascetic penances,
and lying prostrate like a flame of fire, 'O thou of great good fortune,
awake, the sun is setting. O thou of rigid vows, O illustrious one, do
your evening prayer after purifying yourself with water and uttering the
name of Vishnu. The time for the evening sacrifice hath come. Twilight, O
lord, is even now gently covering the western side.'

"The illustrious Jaratkaru of great ascetic merit, thus addressed, spake
unto his wife these words, his upper lip quivering in anger, 'O amiable
one of the Naga race, thou hast insulted me. I shall no longer abide with
thee, but shall go where I came from. O thou of beautiful thighs, I
believe in my heart that the sun hath no power to set in the usual time,
if I am asleep. An insulted person should never live where he hath met
with the insult, far less should I, a virtuous person, or those that are
like me.' Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki, thus addressed by her lord,
began to quake with terror, and she spake unto him, saying, 'O Brahmana, I
have not waked thee from desire of insult; but I have done it so that thy
virtue may not sustain any loss.'

"The Rishi Jaratkaru, great in ascetic merit, possessed with anger and
desirous of forsaking his spouse, thus addressed, spake unto his wife,
saying, O thou fair one, never have I spoken a falsehood. Therefore, go I
shall. This was also settled between ourselves. O amiable one, I have
passed the time happily with thee. And, O fair one, tell thy brother, when
I am gone, that I have left thee. And upon my going away, it behoveth thee
not to grieve for me.'

"Thus addressed Jaratkaru, the fair sister of Vasuki, of faultless
features, filled with anxiety and sorrow, having mustered sufficient
courage and patience, though her heart was still quaking, then spake unto
Rishi Jaratkaru. Her words were obstructed with tears and her face was
pale with fear. And the palms of her hands were joined together, and her
eyes were bathed in tears. And she said, 'It behoveth thee not to leave me
without a fault. Thou treadest over the path of virtue. I too have been in
the same path, with heart fixed on the good of my relatives. O best of
Brahmanas, the object for which I was bestowed on thee hath not been
accomplished yet. Unfortunate that I am, what shall Vasuki say unto me? O
excellent one, the offspring desired of by my relatives afflicted by a
mother's curse, do not yet appear! The welfare of my relatives dependeth
on the acquisition of offspring from thee. And in order that my connection
with thee may not be fruitless, O illustrious Brahmana, moved by the
desire of doing good to my race do I entreat thee. O excellent one, high-
souled thou art; so why shall thou leave me who am faultless? This is what
is not just clear to me.'

"Thus addressed, the Muni of great ascetic merit spake unto his wife
Jaratkaru these words that were proper and suitable to the occasion. And
he said, 'O fortunate one, the being thou hast conceived, even like unto
Agni himself is a Rishi of soul highly virtuous, and a master of the Vedas
and their branches.'

"Having said so, the great Rishi, Jaratkaru of virtuous soul, went away,
his heart firmly fixed on practising again the severest penances.'"

SECTION XLVIII

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'O thou of ascetic wealth, soon after her lord had left her,
Jaratkaru went to her brother. And she told him everything that had
happened. And the prince of snakes, hearing the calamitous news, spake
unto his miserable sister, himself more miserable still.'

"And he said, 'Thou knowest, O amiable one, the purpose of thy bestowal,
the reason thereof. If, from that union, for the welfare of the snakes, a
son be born, then he, possessed of energy, will save us all from the snake-
sacrifice. The Grandsire had said so, of old, in the midst of the gods. O
fortunate one, hast thou conceived from thy union with that best of
Rishis? My heart's desire is that my bestowal of thee on that wise one may
not be fruitless. Truly, it is not proper for me to ask thee about this.
But from the gravity of the interests I ask thee this. Knowing also the
obstinacy of thy lord, ever engaged in severe penances, I shall not follow
him, for he may curse me. Tell me in detail all that thy lord, O amiable
one, hath done, and extract that terribly afflicting dart that lies
implanted for a long time past in my heart.'

"Jaratkaru, thus addressed, consoling Vasuki, the king of the snakes, at
length replied, saying, 'Asked by me about offspring, the high-souled and
mighty ascetic said, 'There is,'--and then he went away. I do not remember
him to have ever before speak even in jest aught that is false. Why should
he, O king, speak a falsehood on such a serious occasion? He said, 'Thou
shouldst not grieve, O daughter of the snake race, about the intended
result of our union. A son shall be born to thee, resplendent as the
blazing sun.' O brother, having said this to me, my husband of ascetic
wealth went away--Therefore, let the deep sorrow cherished in thy heart
disappear.'

"Sauti continued, 'Thus addressed, Vasuki, the king of the snakes,
accepted those words of his sister, and in great joy said, 'Be it so!' And
the chief of the snakes then adored his sister with his best regards, gift
of wealth, and fitting eulogies. Then, O best of Brahmanas, the embryo
endued with great splendour, began to develop, like the moon in the
heavens in the bright fortnight.

"And in due time, the sister of the snakes, O Brahmana, gave birth to a
son of the splendour of a celestial child, who became the reliever of
the fears of his ancestors and maternal relatives. The child grew up there
in the house of the king of the snakes. He studied the Vedas and their
branches with the ascetic Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu. And though but a
boy, his vows were rigid. And he was gifted with great intelligence, and
with the several attributes of virtue, knowledge, freedom from the world's
indulgences, and saintliness. And the name by which he was known to the
world was Astika. And he was known by the name of Astika (whoever is)
because his father had gone to the woods, saying. 'There is', when he was
in the womb. Though but a boy, he had great gravity and intelligence. And
he was reared with great care in the palace of the snakes. And he was like
the illustrious lord of the celestials, Mahadeva of the golden form, the
wielder of the trident. And he grew up day by day, the delight of all the
snakes.'"

SECTION XLIX

(Astika Parva continued)

"Saunaka said, 'Tell me again, in detail,--all that king Janamejaya had
asked his ministers about his father's ascension to heaven.'

'Sauti said, 'O Brahmana, hear all that the king asked his ministers, and
all that they said about the death of Parikshit.'

"Janamejaya asked, 'Know ye all that befell my father. How did that famous
king, in time, meet with his death? Hearing from you the incidents of my
father's life in detail, I shall ordain something, if it be for the
benefit of the world. Otherwise, I shall do nothing.'

'The minister replied, 'Hear, O monarch, what thou hast asked, viz., an
account of thy illustrious father's life, and how also that king of kings
left this world. Thy father was virtuous and high-souled, and always
protected his people. O, hear, how that high-souled one conducted himself
on earth. Like unto an impersonation of virtue and justice, the monarch,
cognisant of virtue, virtuously protected the four orders, each engaged in
the discharge of their specified duties. Of incomparable prowess, and
blessed with fortune, he protected the goddess Earth. There was none who
hated him and he himself hated none. Like unto Prajapati (Brahma) he was
equally disposed towards all creatures. O monarch, Brahmanas and
Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, all engaged contentedly in the practice
of their respective duties, were impartially protected by that king.
Widows and orphans, the maimed and the poor, he maintained. Of handsome
features, he was unto all creatures like a second Soma. Cherishing his
subjects and keeping them contented, blessed with good fortune, truth-
telling, of immense prowess, he was the disciple of Saradwat in the
science of arms. And, O Janamejaya, thy father was dear unto Govinda. Of
great fame, he was loved by all men. And he was born in the womb of Uttara
when the Kuru race was almost extinct. And, therefore, the mighty son of
Abhimanyu came to be called Parikshit (born in an extinct line). Well-
versed in the interpretation of treatises on the duties of kings, he was
gifted with every virtue. With passions under complete control,
intelligent, possessing a retentive memory, the practiser of all virtues,
the conqueror of his six passions of powerful mind, surpassing all, and
fully acquainted with the science of morality and political science, the
father had ruled over these subjects for sixty years. And he then died,
mourned by all his subjects. And, after him, O first of men, thou hast
acquired this hereditary kingdom of the Kurus for the last thousand years.
Thou wast installed while a child, and art thus protecting every
creature.'

"Janamejaya said, 'There hath not been born in our race a king who hath
not sought the good of his subjects or been loved by them. Behold
especially the conduct of my grandsires ever engaged in great achievements.
How did my father, blessed with many virtues, meet with his death?
Describe everything to me as it happened. I am desirous of hearing it from
you!'

"Sauti continued, 'Thus directed by the monarch, those councillors, ever
solicitous of the good of the king, told him everything exactly as it had
occurred.'

'And the councillors said, 'O king, that father of thine, that protector
of the whole earth, that foremost of all persons obedient to the
scriptures, became addicted to the sports of the field, even as Pandu of
mighty arms, that foremost of all bearers of the bow in battle. He made
over to us all the affairs of state from the most trivial to the most
important. One day, going into the forest, he pierced a deer with an arrow.
And having pierced it he followed it quickly on foot into the deep woods,
armed with sword and quiver. He could not, however, come upon the lost
deer. Sixty years of age and decrepit, he was soon fatigued and became
hungry. He then saw in the deep woods a high-souled Rishi. The Rishi was
then observing the vow of silence. The king asked him about the deer, but,
though asked, he made no reply. At last the king, already tired with
exertion and hunger, suddenly became angry with that Rishi sitting
motionless like a piece of wood in observance of his vow of silence.
Indeed, the king knew not that he was a Muni observing the vow of silence.
Swayed by anger, thy father insulted him. O excellent one of the Bharata
race, the king, thy father taking up from the ground with the end of his
bow a dead snake placed it on the shoulders of that Muni of pure soul. But
the Muni spake not a word good or bad and was without anger. He continued
in the same posture, bearing the dead snake.'"

SECTION L

(Astika Parva continued)

'Sauti continued, 'The ministers said, 'That king of kings then, spent
with hunger and exertion, and having placed the snake upon the shoulders
of that Muni, came back to his capital. The Muni had a son, born of a cow,
of the name of Sringin. He was widely known, possessed of great prowess
and energy, and very wrathful. Going (every day) to his preceptor he was
in the habit of worshipping him. Commanded by him, Sringin was returning
home, when he heard from a friend of his about the insult of his father by
thy parent. And, O tiger among kings, he heard that his father, without
having committed any fault, was bearing, motionless like a statue, upon
his shoulders a dead snake placed thereon. O king, the Rishi insulted by
thy father was severe in ascetic penances, the foremost of Munis, the
controller of passions, pure, and ever engaged in wonderful acts. His soul
was enlightened with ascetic penances, and his organs and their functions
were under complete control. His practices and his speech were both very
nice. He was contented and without avarice. He was without meanness of any
kind and without envy. He was old and used to observe the vow of silence.
And he was the refuge whom all creatures might seek in distress.

"Such was the Rishi insulted by thy father. The son, however, of that
Rishi, in wrath, cursed thy father. Though young in years, the powerful
one was old in ascetic splendour. Speedily touching water, he spake,
burning as it were with spiritual energy and rage, these words in allusion
to thy father, 'Behold the power of my asceticism! Directed by my words,
the snake Takshaka of powerful energy and virulent poison, shall, within
seven nights hence, burn, with his poison the wretch that hath placed the
dead snake upon my un-offending father.' And having said this, he went to
where his father was. And seeing his father he told him of his curse. The
tiger among Rishis thereupon sent to thy father a disciple of his, named
Gaurmukha, of amiable manners and possessed of every virtue. And having
rested a while (after arrival at court) he told the king everything,
saying in the words of his master, 'Thou hast been cursed, O king, by my
son. Takshaka shall burn thee with his poison! Therefore, O king, be
careful.' O Janamejaya, hearing those terrible words, thy father took
every precaution against the powerful snake Takshaka.

"And when the seventh day had arrived, a Brahmana Rishi, named Kasyapa,
desired to come to the monarch. But the snake Takshaka saw Kasyapa. And
the prince of snakes spake unto Kasyapa without loss of time, saying,
'Where dost thou go so quickly, and what is the business on which thou
goest?' Kasyapa replied, saying, 'O Brahmana, I am going whither king
Parikshit, that best of the Kurus, is. He shall today be burnt by the
poison of the snake Takshaka. I go there quickly in order to cure him, in
fact, in order that, protected by me, the snake may not bite him to
death.' Takshaka answered, saying, 'Why dost thou seek to revive the king
to be bitten by me? I am that Takshaka. O Brahmana, behold the wonderful
power of my poison. Thou art incapable of reviving that monarch when bit
by me.' So saying, Takshaka, then and there, bit a lord of the forest (a
banian tree). And the banian, as soon as it was bit by the snake, was
converted into ashes. But Kasyapa, O king, revived it. Takshaka thereupon
tempted him, saying, 'Tell me thy desire.' And Kasyapa, too, thus
addressed, spake again unto Takshaka, saying, 'I go there from desire of
wealth.' And Takshaka, thus addressed, then spake unto the high-souled
Kasyapa in these soft words, 'O sinless one, take from me more wealth than
what thou expectest from that monarch, and go back!' And Kasyapa, that
foremost of men, thus addressed by the snake, and receiving from him as
much wealth as he desired, wended his way back.

"And Kasyapa going back, Takshaka, approaching in disguise, blasted, with
the fire of his poison, thy virtuous father, the first of kings, then
staying in his mansion with all precautions. And after that, thou hast, O
tiger among men, been installed (on the throne). And, O best of monarchs,
we have thus told thee all that we have seen and heard, cruel though the
account is. And hearing all about the discomfiture of thy royal father,
and of the insult to the Rishi Utanka, decide thou that which should
follow!'