Shaunaka said: -
1-2. O son of Suta, I desire to know why the illustrious Rishi whom you call Jaratkaru came to be so called you should tell us the Etymology of the name of Jaratkaru.
Souti said: -
3-4. Jara, means “waste” —Kara means “huge.” The body of this Rishi was huge, but he reduced it by severe penances. O Brahmana, because he thus reduced his body, he was called Jaratkaru. The sister of Vasuki was called Jaratkaru for the same reason.
5. When the pious Saunaka heard this, he smiled, and addressing Ugrasrava (Souti) said, “It is true.”
Shaunaka said: -
6. I have heard all that you have narrated. Now I wish to hear how Astika was born.
Souti said: —
7. Vasuki, wishing to bestow his sister on Rishi Jaratkaru, gave the snakes (all necessary) orders.
8. Many years rolled away, but the Rishi of rigid vows, deeply engaged in ascetic devotions, did not seek for a wife.
9. That high-souled Rishi, his sexual passion completely under control, engaged in deep study and devoted to rigid asceticism, fearlessly roamed over the world, having no desire for a wife.
10. O Brahmana, once upon a time there was a king, named Parikshit, born in the race of the Kurus.
11. He was like his grandfather, mighty in arms, the best of all bowmen in battle, and was very fond of hunting.
12. That king of the world roamed about, bunting deer, wild boars, hyena and buffaloes, ana various other wild animals.
13. One day, having pierced a deer with an arrow, he slang his bow on his back and entered into a deep forest.
14. He searched for it in the forest here and there, as Rudra did in heaven for the sacrificial deer which was pierced with his arrow.
15. Never had a deer, pierced by Parikshit, escaped in the forest with life. The deer, however, wounded as the others, were fled away with speed. It shows the proximity of the king’s going to heaven (death).
16. The deer, that the king of men, Parikshit wounded, was soon lost out of his sight, and the king went in pursuit it far into the forest.
17-19. Fatigued and thirsty he came Upon a Rishi, in the forest, seated in a cowshed, drinking the froth oozing out of the mouths of the calves sucking the milk of their mothers. Coming to him with all haste, the king asked that Rishi of great austerity, u O Brahmana, I am king Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu.
20. Have you seen where the deer pierced by me has gone?” But the Rishi, observing the vow of silence, did not reply to him.
21. The king, being angry took up a dead snake with the end of his bow and placed it round the neck of the Rishi, but the Rishi did not prevent him from doing it.
22-23. He did not even say n word, either good or bad. Seeing him in that state, the king cast off his anger and became very sorry. He went away to his capital, arid the Rishi remained as he was. The forgiving great Rishi knowing him, that best of Kings,
24-25. To be true to the duties of his order, did not curse him. That best of kings, the best of the Bharata race, also did not know that the Rishi was a virtuous man. It is for this that he thus insulted him. This Rishi had a young, greatly powerful and exceedingly ascetic son.
26-27. Who was named Sringi. He was full of wrath, severe in his vows and difficult to be appeased. He sometimes worshipped with great attention his (preceptor) Brahma, seated on his seat and ever engaged in doing good to all creatures. Commanded by him, he was coming home one day,
28-29. When his friend (Krisha) in a playful mood, laughingly spoke to him about his father. The Kishi’s son, ever wrathful and like poison itself, hearing what had happened to his father, blazed up in a rage.
Krisha said: -
30. O Sringi, do not be proud. Ascetic as you are and possessed of great powers, (go and see) your father is carrying a dead body (on his shoulder),
31. Don’t speak with the sons of the Rishis like ourselves, who are deep in asceticism, who have knowledge of truth and who have attained success.
32. Where is your that manliness, and where are your those proud words, when you see your father carrying a dead snake?
33. O best of Rishis, your father did nothing to meet with this treatment. I am pained as if it has been done to me.
Thus ends the fortieth chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.
Souti said: -
1. Being thus addressed, and having heard that his father was bearing a dead snake, the powerful Sringi grew exceedingly angry.
2. Looking at Krisha, he softly asked him, “Why does my father bear a dead snake?”
Krisha said: —
3. O dear friend, when Parikshit was roving for the purpose of hunting, he placed the dead snake on the shoulder of your father.
Sringi said: -
4. What harm was done by my father to that miscreant king? Tell me this, O Krisha, and (you will wen) see my ascetic powers.
Krisha said: -
5. King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu, having wounded a fleet stag with an arrow while hunting, chased it alone.
6. He lost sight of the stag in the wilderness of the forest and seeing your father he accosted him.
7. But he (your father) was then observing the vow of silence. Oppressed by hunger, thirst and fatigue, the king repeatedly asked your father about the missing deer.
8. But the Rishi, being then under the vow of silence, did not make any reply. Thereupon the king, becoming angry, placed the snake on his shoulder, taking it up with the end of his bow.
9. O Sringi, your father, engaged in devotion, is still in that posture. The king has, however, gone away to his capital (Hastinapur), named after the elephant.
Souti said: -
10. Having heard that a dead snake had been placed on his father’s shoulder, the Rishi’s son looked like a blazing fire, his eyes reddened with anger.
11. Inflamed with anger, the powerful Rishi, touching water, cursed the king thus,
Sringi said: -
12-14. He who has placed the dead snake on the shoulder of my old and lean father, —that miscreant of a king, that in- salter of the Brahmana; the destroyer of the fame of the Kuru race, —will be taken within seven days from to-day to the land of Yama by the snake Takshaka, the powerful king of the serpents, stimulated by my words.
Souti said: -
15. “Having thus cursed the king from anger, Sringi went to his father, and saw that he was sitting in the cowshed, the dead snake (was still) on his shoulder.
16. Seeing that the dead snake was on the shoulder of his father, he was again inflamed with anger.
17. He shed tears in grief; and addressed his father thus, “O father, hearing the insult offered to you by the miscreant,
18. King Parikshit, I have cursed him from anger. That wretch of the Kurus richly deserves my potent curse. Within seven days from this date the king of snake, Takshaka.
19. Will take the sinner to the fearful house of Death.” And the father said to the enraged son.
Samika said: —
20. O child, I am not pleased with your act. It is not proper for ascetics to act thus. We live in the domains of that king;
21. We are righteously protected by him, and therefore, we should not mind his faults. The reigning kings should always be pardoned by men like us.
22. O son, if you destroy Dharma, (piety), Dharma will certainly destroy you. If the king does not protect us, we meet with many afflictions.
23. O son, we cannot then perform our religious rites as we desire. Protected by virtuous kings,
24. We achieve great merits; and a share of it always goes to such kings. Therefore, reigning kings are always to be forgiven;
25. Specially Parikshit, who, like his grandfather, protects us as a king should protect his subjects.
26. That penance-practising king was oppressed by hunger and thirst, and he did not know that I was observing the vow of silence.
27. Disasters always befall on a country where there is no king. The king punishes those who grow wicked.
28. The fear of punishment brings in peace, and men thus perform their duties and their rites undisturbed.
29. The king establishes the kingdom of heaven. The king protects all sacrifices, and the sacrifices please the celestials;
30. The celestials cause rain, and rain reduces medicinal herbs; the medicinal erbs do immense good to mankind.
31. Manu said, ‘The ruler of the destiny of men is equal to ten Veda-knowing Brahmanas.’
32. That penance-observing king, oppressed by hunger and thirst, has done this through ignorance of my vow.
33. Why have you, through childishness, done rashly this unrighteous action? O son, that king in no way deserves a curse from us.
Thus ends the forty first chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.