Jaratkaru Marries and Departs

Verse 1 (1.47.1)

वासुकिस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं जरत्कारुमृषिं तदा । सनाम्नी तव कन्येयं स्वसा मे तपसान्विता ॥

vāsukistvabravīdvākyaṃ jaratkārumṛṣiṃ tadā | sanāmnī tava kanyeyaṃ svasā me tapasānvitā

Then Vasuki said to the sage Jaratkaru, "This maiden bears your name. She is my sister, and she is devoted to austerity."

Verse 2 (1.47.2)

भरिष्यामि च ते भार्यां प्रतीच्छेमां द्विजोत्तम । रक्षणं च करिष्येऽस्याः सर्वशक्त्या तपोधन । त्वदर्थं रक्ष्यते चैषा मया मुनिवरोत्तम ॥

bhariṣyāmi ca te bhāryāṃ pratīcchemāṃ dvijottama | rakṣaṇaṃ ca kariṣye'syāḥ sarvaśaktyā tapodhana | tvadarthaṃ rakṣyate caiṣā mayā munivarottama

"I will maintain your wife; accept her, best of the twice-born. I will protect her with all my strength, rich in austerity. It is for your sake, best of sages, that I have kept her safe."

Note on the text: The first two lines are CE 1.43.2; the third line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.47.3)

न भरिष्येऽहमेतां वै एष मे समयः कृतः । अप्रियं च न कर्तव्यं कृते चैनां त्यजाम्यहम् ॥

na bhariṣye'hametāṃ vai eṣa me samayaḥ kṛtaḥ | apriyaṃ ca na kartavyaṃ kṛte caināṃ tyajāmyaham

"I will not maintain her; that is the condition I have made. And she must do nothing to displease me; if she does, I will leave her."

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

Verse 4 (1.47.4)

प्रतिश्रुते तु नागेन भरिष्ये भगिनीमिति । जरत्कारुस्तदा वेश्म भुजगस्य जगाम ह ॥

pratiśrute tu nāgena bhariṣye bhaginīmiti | jaratkārustadā veśma bhujagasya jagāma ha

When the serpent had promised, "I will maintain my sister," Jaratkaru went to the serpent’s dwelling.

Verse 5 (1.47.5)

तत्र मन्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठस्तपोवृद्धो महाव्रतः । जग्राह पाणिं धर्मात्मा विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ॥

tatra mantravidāṃ śreṣṭhastapovṛddho mahāvrataḥ | jagrāha pāṇiṃ dharmātmā vidhimantrapuraskṛtam

There the righteous sage, foremost of those who know the mantras, grown great in austerity and great in his vows, took her hand with due rite and mantras.

Verse 6 (1.47.6)

ततो वासगृहं रम्यं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य संमतम् । जगाम भार्यामादाय स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ॥

tato vāsagṛhaṃ ramyaṃ pannagendrasya saṃmatam | jagāma bhāryāmādāya stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ

Then, praised by the great sages, he took his wife and went to a lovely bridal chamber that the lord of the serpents had chosen.

Note on the text: Corrected भार्याम दाय → भार्यामादाय (misprint in Wikisource; a broken word, the critical edition reads bhāryām ādāya).

Verse 7 (1.47.7)

शयनं तत्र संक्लृप्तं स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृतम् । तत्र भार्यासहायो वै जरत्कारुरुवास ह ॥

śayanaṃ tatra saṃklṛptaṃ spardhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛtam | tatra bhāryāsahāyo vai jaratkāruruvāsa ha

A bed had been made ready there, spread with costly coverlets, and there Jaratkaru lived with his wife.

Verse 8 (1.47.8)

स तत्र समयं चक्रे भार्यया सह सत्तमः । विप्रियं मे न कर्तव्यं न च वाच्यं कदाचन ॥

sa tatra samayaṃ cakre bhāryayā saha sattamaḥ | vipriyaṃ me na kartavyaṃ na ca vācyaṃ kadācana

There that excellent man made a compact with his wife: "You must never do anything to displease me, nor ever say anything unpleasant.

Verse 9 (1.47.9)

त्यजेयं विप्रिये च त्वां कृते वासं च ते गृहे । एतद्गृहाण वचनं मया यत्समुदीरितम् ॥

tyajeyaṃ vipriye ca tvāṃ kṛte vāsaṃ ca te gṛhe | etadgṛhāṇa vacanaṃ mayā yatsamudīritam

If you displease me, I will leave you, and my dwelling in your house. Take to heart these words that I have spoken."

Verse 10 (1.47.10)

ततः परमसंविग्ना स्वसा नागपतेस्तदा । अतिदुःखान्विता वाक्यं तमुवाचैवमस्त्विति ॥

tataḥ paramasaṃvignā svasā nāgapatestadā | atiduḥkhānvitā vākyaṃ tamuvācaivamastviti

Then the sister of the lord of the serpents, deeply alarmed and very sorrowful, said to him, "So be it."

Verse 11 (1.47.11)

तथैव सा च भर्तारं दुःखशीलमुपाचरत् । उपायैः श्वेतकाकीयैः प्रियकामा यशस्विनी ॥

tathaiva sā ca bhartāraṃ duḥkhaśīlamupācarat | upāyaiḥ śvetakākīyaiḥ priyakāmā yaśasvinī

And so that illustrious woman, eager to please, attended on her exacting husband by the ways of the white crow, with rare and watchful care.

Note on the text: Corrected उपचारत् → उपाचरत् (misprint in Wikisource; the imperfect of upa-car, as the critical edition reads upācarat).

Verse 12 (1.47.12)

ऋतुकाले ततः स्नाता कदाचिद्वासुकेः स्वसा । भर्तारं वै यथान्यायमुपतस्थे महामुनिम् ॥

ṛtukāle tataḥ snātā kadācidvāsukeḥ svasā | bhartāraṃ vai yathānyāyamupatasthe mahāmunim

Then once, in her season, Vasuki’s sister bathed and went to her husband, the great sage, as was proper.

Verse 13 (1.47.13)

तत्र तस्याः समभवद्गर्भो ज्वलनसन्निभः । अतीव तेजसा युक्तो वैश्वानरसमद्युतिः ॥

tatra tasyāḥ samabhavadgarbho jvalanasannibhaḥ | atīva tejasā yukto vaiśvānarasamadyutiḥ

There a child was conceived in her, like a blazing fire, filled with surpassing radiance, as bright as Vaishvanara, the fire.

Note on the text: This verse corresponds to CE 1.43.12ab–cd (the critical edition’s verse has a third line, carried in the next verse). From here to verse 16 Wikisource divides the lines half a verse off from the critical edition.

Verse 14 (1.47.14)

शुक्लपक्षे यथा सोमो व्यवर्धत तथैव सः । ततः कतिपयाहस्तु जरत्कारुर्महायशाः ॥

śuklapakṣe yathā somo vyavardhata tathaiva saḥ | tataḥ katipayāhastu jaratkārurmahāyaśāḥ

It grew as the moon grows in the bright fortnight. Then, after a few days, the illustrious Jaratkaru,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.12ef–13ab.

Verse 15 (1.47.15)

उत्सङ्गेऽस्याः शिरः कृत्वा सुष्वाप परिखिन्नवत् । तस्मिंश्च सुप्ते विप्रेन्द्रे सवितास्तमियाद्गिरिम् ॥

utsaṅge'syāḥ śiraḥ kṛtvā suṣvāpa parikhinnavat | tasmiṃśca supte viprendre savitāstamiyādgirim

as if weary, laid his head in her lap and fell asleep. While that lord of brahmins slept, the sun went down toward the western mountain.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.13cd–14ab.

Verse 16 (1.47.16)

अह्नः परिक्षये ब्रह्मंस्ततः साऽचिन्तयत्तदा । वासुकेर्भगिनी भीता धर्मलोपान्मनस्विनी ॥

ahnaḥ parikṣaye brahmaṃstataḥ sā'cintayattadā | vāsukerbhaginī bhītā dharmalopānmanasvinī

As the day was ending, brahmin, Vasuki’s high-minded sister, fearing a lapse in dharma, thought to herself:

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.14cd–ef (the critical edition’s verse has three lines).

Verse 17 (1.47.17)

किं नु मे सुकृतं भूयाद्भर्तुरुत्थापनं न वा । दुःखशीलो हि धर्मात्मा कथं नास्यापराध्नुयाम् ॥

kiṃ nu me sukṛtaṃ bhūyādbharturutthāpanaṃ na vā | duḥkhaśīlo hi dharmātmā kathaṃ nāsyāparādhnuyām

"Which would be the better deed for me: to wake my husband or not? He is righteous but hard to live with; how am I to avoid offending him?

Verse 18 (1.47.18)

कोपो वा धर्मशीलस्य धर्मलोपोऽथवा पुनः । धर्मलोपो गरीयान्वै स्यादित्यत्राकरोन्मतिम् ॥

kopo vā dharmaśīlasya dharmalopo'thavā punaḥ | dharmalopo garīyānvai syādityatrākaronmatim

Either the anger of this righteous man, or else a lapse in his dharma: the lapse in dharma would be the graver." So she made up her mind.

Verse 19 (1.47.19)

उत्थापयिष्ये यद्येनं ध्रुवं कोपं करिष्यति । धर्मलोपो भवेदस्य सन्ध्यातिक्रमणे ध्रुवम् ॥

utthāpayiṣye yadyenaṃ dhruvaṃ kopaṃ kariṣyati | dharmalopo bhavedasya sandhyātikramaṇe dhruvam

"If I wake him, he will surely be angry; but if the time of the evening rite goes by, his dharma will surely lapse."

Verse 20 (1.47.20)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा जरत्कारुर्भुजंगमा । तमृषिं दीप्ततपसं शयानमनलोपमम् ॥

iti niścitya manasā jaratkārurbhujaṃgamā | tamṛṣiṃ dīptatapasaṃ śayānamanalopamam

Having thus made up her mind, the serpent woman Jaratkaru turned to the sage of blazing austerity, who lay there like a fire,

Note on the text: This verse corresponds to CE 1.43.18ab–cd (the critical edition’s verse has a third line, carried in the next verse). From here to verse 32 Wikisource divides the lines half a verse off from the critical edition.

Verse 21 (1.47.21)

उवाचेदं वचः श्लक्ष्णं ततो मधुरभाषिणी । उत्तिष्ठ त्वं महाभाग सूर्योऽस्तमुपगच्छति ॥

uvācedaṃ vacaḥ ślakṣṇaṃ tato madhurabhāṣiṇī | uttiṣṭha tvaṃ mahābhāga sūryo'stamupagacchati

and, sweet of speech, spoke these gentle words to him: "Rise, most fortunate one; the sun is setting.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.18ef–19ab.

Verse 22 (1.47.22)

सन्ध्यामुपास्स्व भगवन्नपः स्पृष्ट्वा यतव्रतः । प्रादुष्कृताग्निहोत्रोऽयं मुहूर्तो रम्यदारुणः ॥

sandhyāmupāssva bhagavannapaḥ spṛṣṭvā yatavrataḥ | prāduṣkṛtāgnihotro'yaṃ muhūrto ramyadāruṇaḥ

Touch water, lord, and perform the evening worship, firm in your vows. This is the hour when the sacred fires are kindled, lovely and fearful at once.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.19cd–20ab.

Verse 23 (1.47.23)

सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते चेयं पश्चिमायां दिशि प्रभो । एवमुक्तः स भगवाञ्जरत्कारुर्महातपाः ॥

sandhyā pravartate ceyaṃ paścimāyāṃ diśi prabho | evamuktaḥ sa bhagavāñjaratkārurmahātapāḥ

The evening twilight is coming on in the west, my lord." Thus addressed, the blessed Jaratkaru, great in austerity,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.20cd–21ab.

Verse 24 (1.47.24)

भार्यां प्रस्फुरमाणौष्ठ इदं वचनमब्रवीत् । अवमानः प्रयुक्तोऽयं त्वया मम भुजंगमे ॥

bhāryāṃ prasphuramāṇauṣṭha idaṃ vacanamabravīt | avamānaḥ prayukto'yaṃ tvayā mama bhujaṃgame

his lips trembling, said these words to his wife: "You have done me an insult, serpent woman.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.21cd–22ab.

Verse 25 (1.47.25)

समीपे ते न वत्स्यामि गमिष्यामि यथागतम् । शक्तिरस्ति न वामोरु मयि सुप्ते विभावसोः ॥

samīpe te na vatsyāmi gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam | śaktirasti na vāmoru mayi supte vibhāvasoḥ

I will not live near you; I will go back the way I came. I am certain in my heart, fair-thighed one, that while I sleep the sun has no power

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.22cd–23ab.

Verse 26 (1.47.26)

अस्तं गन्तुं यथाकालमिति मे हृदि वर्तते । न चाप्यवमतस्येह वासो रोचेत कस्यचित् ॥

astaṃ gantuṃ yathākālamiti me hṛdi vartate | na cāpyavamatasyeha vāso roceta kasyacit

to set at its proper time. No one would care to stay where he has been slighted,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.23cd–24ab.

Verse 27 (1.47.27)

किं पुनर्धर्मशीलस्य मम वा मद्विधस्य वा । एवमुक्ता जरत्कारुर्भर्त्रा हृदयकम्पनम् ॥

kiṃ punardharmaśīlasya mama vā madvidhasya vā | evamuktā jaratkārurbhartrā hṛdayakampanam

still less a man devoted to dharma, such as I am or anyone like me." Addressed thus by her husband in words that shook her heart, Jaratkaru,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.24cd–25ab.

Verse 28 (1.47.28)

अब्रवीद्भगिनी तत्र वासुकेः सन्निवेशने । नावमानात्कृतवती तवाहं विप्र बोधनम् ॥

abravīdbhaginī tatra vāsukeḥ sanniveśane | nāvamānātkṛtavatī tavāhaṃ vipra bodhanam

Vasuki’s sister, spoke there in her brother’s house: "It was not to insult you that I woke you, brahmin;

Note on the text: Corrected विप्रे → विप्र (misprint in Wikisource; the vocative vipra, "O brahmin"; the critical edition reads pratibodhanam here). Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.25cd–26ab.

Verse 29 (1.47.29)

धर्मलोपो न ते विप्र स्यादित्येतन्मया कृतम् । उवाच भार्यामित्युक्तो जरत्कारुर्महातपाः ॥

dharmalopo na te vipra syādityetanmayā kṛtam | uvāca bhāryāmityukto jaratkārurmahātapāḥ

I did it, brahmin, so that your dharma should not lapse." Spoken to in this way, the great ascetic Jaratkaru answered his wife,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.26cd–27ab.

Verse 30 (1.47.30)

ऋषिः कोपसमाविष्टस्त्यक्तुकामो भुजंगमाम् । न मे वागनृतं प्राह गमिष्येऽहं भुजंगमे ॥

ṛṣiḥ kopasamāviṣṭastyaktukāmo bhujaṃgamām | na me vāganṛtaṃ prāha gamiṣye'haṃ bhujaṃgame

the sage, filled with anger and wishing to leave the serpent woman: "My speech has never spoken a falsehood. I will go, serpent woman.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.27cd–28ab.

Verse 31 (1.47.31)

समयो ह्येष मे पूर्वं त्वया सह मिथः कृतः । सुखमस्म्युषितो भद्रे ब्रूयास्त्वं भ्रातरं शुभे ॥

samayo hyeṣa me pūrvaṃ tvayā saha mithaḥ kṛtaḥ | sukhamasmyuṣito bhadre brūyāstvaṃ bhrātaraṃ śubhe

For this was the compact I made with you beforehand. I have lived here happily, good lady. Tell your brother, lovely one,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.28cd–29ab.

Verse 32 (1.47.32)

इतो मयि गते भीरु गतः स भगवानिति । त्वं चापि मयि निष्क्रान्ते न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

ito mayi gate bhīru gataḥ sa bhagavāniti | tvaṃ cāpi mayi niṣkrānte na śokaṃ kartumarhasi

once I have gone from here, timid one, that ‘the holy man has gone.’ And when I have left, you must not grieve."

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.29cd–ef (the critical edition’s verse has three lines).

Verse 33 (1.47.33)

इत्युक्ता साऽनवद्याङ्गी प्रत्युवाच मुनिं तदा । जरत्कारुं जरत्कारुश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणा ॥

ityuktā sā'navadyāṅgī pratyuvāca muniṃ tadā | jaratkāruṃ jaratkāruścintāśokaparāyaṇā

Thus addressed, Jaratkaru of the flawless limbs, sunk in anxiety and grief, replied then to the sage Jaratkaru,

Verse 34 (1.47.34)

बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा मुखेन परिशुष्यता । कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा पर्यश्रुनयना ततः ॥

bāṣpagadgadayā vācā mukhena pariśuṣyatā | kṛtāñjalirvarārohā paryaśrunayanā tataḥ

her voice faltering with tears and her mouth gone dry; with palms joined, the lovely woman, her eyes brimming with tears,

Note on the text: This verse corresponds to CE 1.43.31ab–cd (the critical edition’s verse has a third line, carried in the next verse). From here to verse 40 Wikisource divides the lines half a verse off from the critical edition.

Verse 35 (1.47.35)

धैर्यमालम्ब्य वामोरूर्हृदयेन प्रवेपता । न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परित्यक्तुमनागसम् ॥

dhairyamālambya vāmorūrhṛdayena pravepatā | na māmarhasi dharmajña parityaktumanāgasam

summoned her courage, though her heart was trembling: "You should not abandon me, knower of dharma, for I am without fault.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.31ef–32ab.

Verse 36 (1.47.36)

धर्मे स्थितां स्थितो धर्मे सदा प्रियहिते रताम् । प्रदाने कारणं यच्च मम तुभ्यं द्विजोत्तम ॥

dharme sthitāṃ sthito dharme sadā priyahite ratām | pradāne kāraṇaṃ yacca mama tubhyaṃ dvijottama

You stand firm in dharma, and so do I, always devoted to your pleasure and your good. The purpose, best of the twice-born, for which I was given to you —

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.32cd–33ab.

Verse 37 (1.47.37)

तदलब्धवतीं मन्दां किं मां वक्ष्यति वासुकिः । मातृशापाभिभूतानां ज्ञातीनां मम सत्तम ॥

tadalabdhavatīṃ mandāṃ kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati vāsukiḥ | mātṛśāpābhibhūtānāṃ jñātīnāṃ mama sattama

if, unlucky as I am, I have not attained it, what will Vasuki say to me? My kinsmen, best of the good, lie under a mother’s curse;

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.33cd–34ab.

Verse 38 (1.47.38)

अपत्यमीप्सितं त्वत्तस्तच्च तावन्न दृश्यते । त्वत्तो ह्यपत्यलाभेन ज्ञातीनां मे शिवं भवेत् ॥

apatyamīpsitaṃ tvattastacca tāvanna dṛśyate | tvatto hyapatyalābhena jñātīnāṃ me śivaṃ bhavet

offspring from you is what they long for, and as yet it is not to be seen. Through a child gained from you my kinsmen would find their welfare.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.34cd–35ab.

Verse 39 (1.47.39)

संप्रयोगो भवेन्नायं मम मोघस्त्वया द्विज । ज्ञातीनां हितमिच्छन्ती भगवंस्त्वां प्रसादये ॥

saṃprayogo bhavennāyaṃ mama moghastvayā dvija | jñātīnāṃ hitamicchantī bhagavaṃstvāṃ prasādaye

Let not this union of mine with you be in vain, brahmin. Wishing my kinsmen well, holy one, I beg you to be gracious.

Note on the text: Corrected भवेन्नायां → भवेन्नायं (misprint in Wikisource; ayaṃ agrees with the masculine saṃprayogaḥ, as the critical edition reads). Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.35cd–36ab.

Verse 40 (1.47.40)

इममव्यक्तरूपं मे गर्भमाधाय सत्तम । कथं त्यक्त्वा महात्मा सन्गन्तुमिच्छस्यनागसम् ॥

imamavyaktarūpaṃ me garbhamādhāya sattama | kathaṃ tyaktvā mahātmā sangantumicchasyanāgasam

Having placed in me this child whose form is not yet visible, how can you, a great soul, wish to abandon a blameless woman and go, best of the good?"

Note on the text: Wikisource divides these lines half a verse off from the critical edition: this verse corresponds to CE 1.43.36cd–ef (the critical edition’s verse has three lines).

Verse 41 (1.47.41)

एवमुक्तस्तु स मुनिर्भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत् । यद्युक्तमनुरूपं च जरत्कारुं तपोधनः ॥

evamuktastu sa munirbhāryāṃ vacanamabravīt | yadyuktamanurūpaṃ ca jaratkāruṃ tapodhanaḥ

Thus addressed, the sage, rich in austerity, spoke words to his wife Jaratkaru that were fitting and proper:

Verse 42 (1.47.42)

अस्त्ययं सुभगे गर्भस्तव वैश्वानरोपमः । ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥

astyayaṃ subhage garbhastava vaiśvānaropamaḥ | ṛṣiḥ paramadharmātmā vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ

"There is this child within you, fortunate one, like the fire god himself: a seer, supremely righteous, master of the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences."

Verse 43 (1.47.43)

एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा जरत्कारुर्महानृषिः । उग्राय तपसे भूयो जगाम कृतनिश्चयः ॥

evamuktvā sa dharmātmā jaratkārurmahānṛṣiḥ | ugrāya tapase bhūyo jagāma kṛtaniścayaḥ

Having said this, the righteous Jaratkaru, the great seer, went off once more, firm in his resolve, to practise fierce austerity.