Souti said: -
1. O best of the twice born, hearing what Elapatra said, all the snakes exclaimed in joy, “Well said! Excellent man.”
2. From that day Vasuki carefully kept that maiden, his sister Jaratkaru, and he took great pleasure in rearing her up.
3. Not long after this, the Devas and the Asuras churned the abode of Varuna (Ocean.)
4. And the greatly powerful Vasuki became its churning cord. As soon as this work was done, he appeared before the grandsire.
5. The celestials with Vasuki addressed the Grandsire thus, “O lord, Vasuki is suffering from the fear of the curse.
6. You should draw out the dart, begotten by his mother’s curse, which pierces the heart of Vasuki who is desirous of the weal of his race.
7. The king of the snakes is always our friend and benefactor, “O lord of the gods, be gracious to him, and remove the fever of his mind.
Bramha said: -
8-9. O immortals, I have thought in my mind what you have said. Let the king of the snakes do what Elapatra had told him before. The time has come. The wicked only will be destroyed, and not the virtuous.
10. Jaratkaru is (already) born; that Brahmana is now engaged in penances. Let him (Vasuki), at the proper time, give his sister to Jaratkaru.
11. O celestials, what had been said by Elapatra for the weal of the snakes is true. It is not otherwise.
Souti said: -
12. The king of the snakes, afflicted with the curse, having heard what the Grandsire said, commanded all the snakes:
13. A large number of them who are always attentive to their duties, —to watch the Rishi Jarakaru. He said:
14. “When the Lord Jaratkaru will ask for a wife, come immediately and inform me of it. The weal of our race depends upon it.”
Thus ends the thirty-ninth chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.