Souti said: -
1. O Foremost of Brahma-knowing men, the mother of the snakes, in the days of yore, cursed the Naga race, saying, “He whose charioteer is wind (Agni) will consume you at Janamejaya’s sacrifice.”
2. To neutralise the effect of that curse, the best of snakes (Vasuki) married his sister to the high-souled Rishi of rigid vow.
3. Accepting her according to the ordained rites, he begot on her a high- souled son, called Astika.
4. Who was a great ascetic, who was vastly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, who removed the fears of his parents, and who saw everything with an equal eye.
5. Then after a long time, a descendant of the Pandavas, celebrated a great sacrifice, known as the Snake sacrifice.
6. When the sacrifice for the destruction of the snakes had begun, the great ascetic Astika rescued the Nagas.
7. His brothers, his maternal uncles, and other snakes. He also delivered his fathers by begetting a child.
8. Brahmana, he freed himself from their debts by rigid austerities, by various vows and the study of the Vedas. He propitiated the celestials by sacrifices in which various presents were made.
9. He pleased the Rishis by his Brahmacharya and his ancestors by begetting offspring. Thus, discharging the heavy debt that he owed to his ancestors.
10. Jaratkaru, of great austerity, attained heaven with his forefathers. Begetting the son Astika, and acquiring great religious merit, the best of the Munis.
11. The greatly noble Jaratkaru, after a long course of years, went to heaven. This is the story of Astika. I have briefly narrated it (to you). Now, tell me, O best of the Brigu race, what else I shall narrate.
Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.