Jaratkaru Finds His Ancestors Hanging in a Pit

Verse 1 (1.13.1)

किमर्थं राजशार्दूलः स राजा जनमेजयः । सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतोऽन्तं तद्वदस्व मे । निखिलेन यथातत्त्वं सौते सर्वमशेषतः ॥

kimarthaṃ rājaśārdūlaḥ sa rājā janamejayaḥ | sarpasatreṇa sarpāṇāṃ gato'ntaṃ tadvadasva me | nikhilena yathātattvaṃ saute sarvamaśeṣataḥ

Why did that tiger among kings, King Janamejaya, bring the snakes to their end with the snake sacrifice? Tell me that, Sauti, completely and truly, all of it without leaving anything out.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is Wikisource v. 1 plus the first line of v. 2; that third line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 2 (1.13.2)

आस्तीकश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठः किमर्थं जपतां वरः । मोक्षयामास भुजगान्प्रदीप्ताद्वसुरेतसः ॥

āstīkaśca dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kimarthaṃ japatāṃ varaḥ | mokṣayāmāsa bhujagānpradīptādvasuretasaḥ

And why did Astika, best of brahmins and foremost of those who recite prayers, rescue the snakes from the blazing fire?

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 2 and the first line of v. 3.

Verse 3 (1.13.3)

कस्य पुत्रः स राजासीत्सर्पसत्रं य आहरत् । स च द्विजातिप्रवरः कस्य पुत्रोऽभिधत्स्व मे ॥

kasya putraḥ sa rājāsītsarpasatraṃ ya āharat | sa ca dvijātipravaraḥ kasya putro'bhidhatsva me

Whose son was the king who held the snake sacrifice? And whose son was that foremost of brahmins? Tell me.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 3 and the first line of v. 4.

Verse 4 (1.13.4)

महदाख्यानमास्तीकं यथैतत्प्रोच्यते द्विज । सर्वमेतदशेषेण शृणु मे वदतां वर ॥

mahadākhyānamāstīkaṃ yathaitatprocyate dvija | sarvametadaśeṣeṇa śṛṇu me vadatāṃ vara

The tale of Astika is a great one, brahmin. Hear it all from me, without omission, as it is told, best of speakers.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 4 and the first line of v. 5. Corrected महदाक्यानम् → महदाख्यानम् (misprint in Wikisource; क for ख, CE mahad ākhyānam).

Verse 5 (1.13.5)

श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषेण कथामेतां मनोरमाम् । आस्तीकस्य पुराणर्षेर्ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनः ॥

śrotumicchāmyaśeṣeṇa kathāmetāṃ manoramām | āstīkasya purāṇarṣerbrāhmaṇasya yaśasvinaḥ

I wish to hear in full this delightful story of Astika, the ancient sage, the renowned brahmin.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 5 and the first line of v. 6.

Verse 6 (1.13.6)

इतिहासमिमं विप्राः पुराणं परिचक्षते । कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिषु ॥

itihāsamimaṃ viprāḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate | kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaproktaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsiṣu

Brahmins call this an ancient history, told by Krishna Dvaipayana. Among the dwellers of the Naimisha forest,

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 6 and the first line of v. 7.

Verse 7 (1.13.7)

पूर्वं प्रचोदितः सूतः पिता मे लोमहर्षणः । शिष्यो व्यासस्य मेधावी ब्राह्मणेष्विदमुक्तवान् ॥

pūrvaṃ pracoditaḥ sūtaḥ pitā me lomaharṣaṇaḥ | śiṣyo vyāsasya medhāvī brāhmaṇeṣvidamuktavān

my father, the Suta Lomaharshana, the wise disciple of Vyasa, once told it to the brahmins when they urged him.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 7 and the first line of v. 8.

Verse 8 (1.13.8)

तस्मादहमुपश्रुत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम् । इदमास्तीकमाख्यानं तुभ्यं शौनक पृच्छते । कथयिष्याम्यशेषेण सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥

tasmādahamupaśrutya pravakṣyāmi yathātatham | idamāstīkamākhyānaṃ tubhyaṃ śaunaka pṛcchate | kathayiṣyāmyaśeṣeṇa sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

Having heard it from him, I will tell it exactly as it was. This tale of Astika, which destroys every sin, I will relate to you in full, Shaunaka, since you ask.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 1–9 pair their half-verses out of step with the critical edition, so that Shaunaka's questions and Sauti's replies run across verse boundaries; re-divided here to follow CE 1.13.1–8 (8 verses for Wikisource's 9), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 8 and the whole of v. 9; the third line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.13.9)

आस्तीकस्य पिता ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिसमः प्रभुः । ब्रह्मचारी यताहारस्तपस्युग्रे रतः सदा ॥

āstīkasya pitā hyāsītprajāpatisamaḥ prabhuḥ | brahmacārī yatāhārastapasyugre rataḥ sadā

Astika's father was a mighty lord, equal to a Prajapati, a celibate student, sparing in food and always devoted to fierce austerity.

Verse 10 (1.13.10)

जरत्कारुरिति ख्यात ऊर्ध्वरेता महातपाः । यायावराणां प्रवरो धर्मज्ञः संशितव्रतः ॥

jaratkāruriti khyāta ūrdhvaretā mahātapāḥ | yāyāvarāṇāṃ pravaro dharmajñaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ

He was known as Jaratkaru: one who had drawn his seed upward, a great ascetic, foremost of the Yayavaras, knowing dharma and rigorous in his vows.

Verse 11 (1.13.11)

स कदाचिन्महाभागस्तपोबलसमन्वितः । चचार पृथिवीं सर्वां यत्रसायंगृहो मुनिः ॥

sa kadācinmahābhāgastapobalasamanvitaḥ | cacāra pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ yatrasāyaṃgṛho muniḥ

Once that greatly blessed sage, endowed with the strength of austerity, wandered over the whole earth, making his home wherever evening found him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (1.13.12)

तीर्थेषु च समाप्लावं कुर्वन्नटति सर्वशः । चरन्दीक्षां महातेजा दुश्चरामकृतात्मभिः ॥

tīrtheṣu ca samāplāvaṃ kurvannaṭati sarvaśaḥ | carandīkṣāṃ mahātejā duścarāmakṛtātmabhiḥ

Bathing at the sacred fords, that splendid one roamed everywhere, keeping a discipline that the undisciplined find hard to follow.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.13.13)

वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुष्यन्ननिमिषो मुनिः । इतस्ततः परिचरन्दीप्तपावकसप्रभः ॥

vāyubhakṣo nirāhāraḥ śuṣyannanimiṣo muniḥ | itastataḥ paricarandīptapāvakasaprabhaḥ

Living on air and taking no food, wasting away and never closing his eyes, the sage wandered here and there, shining like a blazing fire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 14 (1.13.14)

अटमानः कदाचित्स्वान्स ददर्श पितामहान् । लम्बमानान्महागर्ते पादैरूर्ध्वैरवाङ्मुखान् ॥

aṭamānaḥ kadācitsvānsa dadarśa pitāmahān | lambamānānmahāgarte pādairūrdhvairavāṅmukhān

As he roamed, he once saw his own ancestors hanging in a great pit, feet upward and heads down.

Verse 15 (1.13.15)

तानब्रवीत्स दृष्ट्वैव जरत्कारुः पितामहान् । के भवन्तोऽवलम्बन्ते गर्ते ह्यस्मिन्नधोमुखाः ॥

tānabravītsa dṛṣṭvaiva jaratkāruḥ pitāmahān | ke bhavanto'valambante garte hyasminnadhomukhāḥ

As soon as he saw those ancestors, Jaratkaru said to them: "Who are you, hanging head down in this pit,

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्ट्वै → दृष्ट्वैव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the pada is one syllable short; CE dṛṣṭvaiva).

Verse 16 (1.13.16)

वीरणस्तम्बके लग्नाः सर्वतः परिभक्षिते । मूषकेन निगूढेन गर्तेऽस्मिन्नित्यवासिना ॥

vīraṇastambake lagnāḥ sarvataḥ paribhakṣite | mūṣakena nigūḍhena garte'sminnityavāsinā

clinging to a clump of virana grass that has been gnawed away on every side by a hidden rat that lives always in this pit?"

Note on the text: Corrected वीरणस्तम्भके → वीरणस्तम्बके (misprint in Wikisource; a clump, स्तम्बक, of vīraṇa grass is meant, not a post; CE vīraṇastambake).

Verse 17 (1.13.17)

यायावरा नाम वयमृषयः संशितव्रताः । संतानप्रक्षयाद्ब्रह्मन्नधो गच्छाम मेदिनीम् ॥

yāyāvarā nāma vayamṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | saṃtānaprakṣayādbrahmannadho gacchāma medinīm

We are sages called the Yayavaras, rigorous in our vows. Because our line is dying out, brahmin, we are sinking down into the earth.

Verse 18 (1.13.18)

अस्माकं संततिस्त्वेको जरत्कारुरिति स्मृतः । मन्दभाग्योऽल्पभाग्यानां तप एकं समास्थितः ॥

asmākaṃ saṃtatistveko jaratkāruriti smṛtaḥ | mandabhāgyo'lpabhāgyānāṃ tapa ekaṃ samāsthitaḥ

We have a single descendant left, known as Jaratkaru. The most luckless of us luckless ones, he has given himself to austerity alone.

Verse 19 (1.13.19)

न स पुत्राञ्जनयितुं दारान्मूढश्चिकीर्षति । तेन लम्बामहे गर्ते संतानस्य क्षयादिह ॥

na sa putrāñjanayituṃ dārānmūḍhaścikīrṣati | tena lambāmahe garte saṃtānasya kṣayādiha

The fool does not wish to take a wife and beget sons. That is why we hang in this pit, because our line is coming to an end.

Verse 20 (1.13.20)

अनाथास्तेन नाथेन यथा दुष्कृतिनस्तथा । येषां तु संततिर्नास्ति मर्त्यलोके सुखावहा ॥

anāthāstena nāthena yathā duṣkṛtinastathā | yeṣāṃ tu saṃtatirnāsti martyaloke sukhāvahā

With such a protector we are as helpless as evildoers. Those who have no offspring in the world of mortals to bring them happiness

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark) before the second line. The first line is the first half of CE 1.13.17; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (1.13.21)

न ते लभन्ते वसतिं स्वर्गे पुण्यकृतोऽपि हि । कस्त्वं बन्धुरिवास्माकमनुशोचसि सत्तम ॥

na te labhante vasatiṃ svarge puṇyakṛto'pi hi | kastvaṃ bandhurivāsmākamanuśocasi sattama

find no dwelling in heaven, even if they have done good deeds. Who are you, good sir, that you grieve for us like a kinsman?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (।') at the end of the first line. The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line is the second half of CE 1.13.17.

Verse 22 (1.13.22)

ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्को भवानिह नः स्थितः । किमर्थं चैव नः शोच्याननुशोचसि सत्तम ॥

jñātumicchāmahe brahmanko bhavāniha naḥ sthitaḥ | kimarthaṃ caiva naḥ śocyānanuśocasi sattama

We wish to know, brahmin, who you are who stand here beside us, and why you grieve for us, who are indeed to be grieved for, good sir.

Verse 23 (1.13.23)

मम पूर्वे भवन्तो वै पितरः सपितामहाः । ब्रूत किं करवाण्यद्य जरत्कारुरहं स्वयम् ॥

mama pūrve bhavanto vai pitaraḥ sapitāmahāḥ | brūta kiṃ karavāṇyadya jaratkārurahaṃ svayam

You are my forebears, my fathers and grandfathers. Tell me what I should do now; I am Jaratkaru himself.

Verse 24 (1.13.24)

यतस्व यत्नवांस्तात संतानाय कुलस्य नः । आत्मनोऽर्थेऽस्मदर्थे च धर्म इत्येव वा विभो ॥

yatasva yatnavāṃstāta saṃtānāya kulasya naḥ | ātmano'rthe'smadarthe ca dharma ityeva vā vibho

Strive with all your effort, dear son, to continue our family, for your own sake and for ours, my lord, for this is dharma.

Verse 25 (1.13.25)

न हि धर्मफलैस्तात न तपोभिः सुसंचितैः । तां गतिं प्राप्नुवन्तीह पुत्रिणो यां व्रजन्ति वै ॥

na hi dharmaphalaistāta na tapobhiḥ susaṃcitaiḥ | tāṃ gatiṃ prāpnuvantīha putriṇo yāṃ vrajanti vai

Neither by the fruits of dharma, dear son, nor by austerities well heaped up do men here reach the state that those who have sons attain.

Note on the text: Corrected तपोऽभिः → तपोभिः (misprint in Wikisource; a spurious avagraha breaks the instrumental plural, CE tapobhiḥ).

Verse 26 (1.13.26)

तद्दारग्रहणे यत्नं संतत्यां च मनः कुरु । पुत्रकास्मन्नियोगात्त्वमेतन्नः परमं हितम् ॥

taddāragrahaṇe yatnaṃ saṃtatyāṃ ca manaḥ kuru | putrakāsmanniyogāttvametannaḥ paramaṃ hitam

So, at our bidding, son, set your effort on taking a wife and your mind on offspring. This is our highest good.

Verse 27 (1.13.27)

न दारान्वै करिष्येऽहं न धनं जीवितार्थतः । भवतां तु हितार्थाय करिष्ये दारसंग्रहम् ॥

na dārānvai kariṣye'haṃ na dhanaṃ jīvitārthataḥ | bhavatāṃ tu hitārthāya kariṣye dārasaṃgraham

I will not take a wife, nor gather wealth for the sake of living. But for your good I will take a wife.

Verse 28 (1.13.28)

समयेन च कर्ताऽहमनेन विधिपूर्वकम् । तथा यद्युपलप्स्यामि करिष्ये नान्यथा ह्यहम् ॥

samayena ca kartā'hamanena vidhipūrvakam | tathā yadyupalapsyāmi kariṣye nānyathā hyaham

And I will do it on this condition, according to rule: if I can find such a bride, I will marry, and not otherwise.

Verse 29 (1.13.29)

सनाम्नी या भवित्री मे दित्सिता चैव बन्धुभिः । भैक्ष्यवत्तामहं कन्यामुपयंस्ये विधानतः ॥

sanāmnī yā bhavitrī me ditsitā caiva bandhubhiḥ | bhaikṣyavattāmahaṃ kanyāmupayaṃsye vidhānataḥ

A maiden who bears the same name as I do, and whom her kinsmen wish to give away, her I will marry by due rite, as one receives alms.

Verse 30 (1.13.30)

दरिद्राय हि मे भार्यां को दास्यति विशेषतः । प्रतिग्रहीष्ये भिक्षां तु यदि कश्चित्प्रदास्यति ॥

daridrāya hi me bhāryāṃ ko dāsyati viśeṣataḥ | pratigrahīṣye bhikṣāṃ tu yadi kaścitpradāsyati

For who would give a wife to a poor man like me? But I will accept her as alms if someone offers her.

Verse 31 (1.13.31)

एवं दारक्रियाहेतोः प्रयतिष्ये पितामहाः । अनेन विधिना शश्वन्न करिष्येऽहमन्यथा ॥

evaṃ dārakriyāhetoḥ prayatiṣye pitāmahāḥ | anena vidhinā śaśvanna kariṣye'hamanyathā

In this way, grandfathers, I will strive to take a wife, always by this rule; I will not do otherwise.

Verse 32 (1.13.32)

तत्र चोत्पत्स्यते जन्तुर्भवतां तारणाय वै । शाश्वतं स्थानमासाद्य मोदन्तां पितरो मम ॥

tatra cotpatsyate janturbhavatāṃ tāraṇāya vai | śāśvataṃ sthānamāsādya modantāṃ pitaro mama

And from her a child will be born to deliver you. Let my fathers reach the eternal abode and rejoice.