Ruru said: -
1. O best of the twice-born, why did king Janamejaya become the destroyer of the snakes, and now did he destroy them?
2. Why were they saved by wise Astika, the best of Brahmanas? I am desirous of hearing all this.
Rishi said: -
3. O Ruru, you will hear the important history of Astika from the Brahmanas. Saying this he disappeared.
Souti said: -
4. Ruru rushed in search of the Rishi, but he did not find him in all the forest. Finding him not, he sat down on the ground, much fatigued.
5. He felt himself confounded and seemed to lose his senses. He repeatedly pondered over the Rishi’s words.
6. Regaining his senses, he came home and asked his father (to relate the history), and his father related to him the story.
Thus ends the twelfth chapter, Paulama in the Adi Parva.
Shaunaka said: -
1. Why did that best of kings, king Janamejaya, resolve to destroy the snakes in a Snake-sacrifice?
2. O Souti, 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?
3. Whose son was the monarch who performed the Snake-sacrifice? Whose son was that best of the twice-born, (who saved the snakes)? Tell us this.
Souti said: -
4. O best of speakers, the story of Astika is very long, I shall relate it in full. O Listen.
Shaunaka said: -
5. I am desirous of hearing in detail the interesting history of Astika, the illustrious Brahmana.
Souti said: -
6. The Brahmanas call this history, recited by Krishna Dwaipayana, a Purana. To the dwellers of Naimisnaranya.
7. Was it formerly narrated by my learned father Lomharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, as requested by the Brahmanas.
8. I was present at the time, O Saunaka. As you ask me, I shall recite it exactly as I heard it.
9. (Listen) to this all sin-destroying history. Astika’s father was as powerful as the Prajapati.
10. 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.
11. He was the foremost of Yayavaras, a man of rigid vows, highly religious and endowed with great ascetic powers. Once at a time this great ascetic,
12. Being Jaira Shayan Griha (living in the place where night overtook him), roamed all over the world, bathed in many sacred waters and visited many holy shrines.
13. He practised difficult austere penances; and feeding on air, remaining in fast, and renouncing sleep forever, he roamed (over the world.)
14. As bright as a blaring fire, he roamed about and thus roving about, he one day his ancestor.
15. Hanging their heads down in a great hole, their feet pointing upwards. On seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed his ancestors thus,
16. Who are you thus hanging in the hole, your heads downward, by a rope of the Birana fibre which has been eaten by the rats that live secretly near this hole?”
The Ancestors said: -
17. We are Rishis of austere penances, called Jayavara. We are sinking down into the earth for the want of an offspring.
18. We have a son, named Jaratkaru. Unfortunate we arc, that wretch has adopt¬ ed asceticism.
19. And therefore that fool does not think of marriage to raise up offspring. It is for this reason, namely the want of offspring, that we are thus suspended in the hole.
20. Having means, we are like sinners who have no means. O excellent man, who are you that are sorrowing for us like a friend?
21. O Brahmana, we wish to know who, you are that stand near us, and why, O excellent man, are you sorrowing for us?
Jaratkaru said: -
22. You are my sires and grand-sires, I am that very Jaratkaru. Tell me what I shall do.
The Ancestors said: -
23. 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.
24. O Son, not by the fruits of virtue, not by the hoarded-up ascetic penances, does one acquire such merit as is acquired by one who is a father.
25. Therefore, O son, set your mind upon marriage and offspring at our command. It will do us the highest good.
Jaratkaru said: -
26. I shall not marry, nor shall I earn money for my own self. But I shall marry to do you good.
27-28. 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 Sastras .
29But 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 a gift.
30. O Sires, I shall try to marry such a girl. Having said so, 1 shall not act otherwise.
31. O fathers, I shall beget offspring on her for your release, so that you may attain to the heaven, called Saswata and rejoice there at will.
Thus ends the thirteenth chapter, Astika in the Adi Parva.