Souti said: -
1. O ascetic Rishi, as soon as her husband was gone, Jaratkaru went to her brother and told him 4II that had happened.
2. Hearing this greatly evil news, the king of the snakes spoke to his miserable sister, he being more miserable than she was.
Vasuki said: —
3. O amiable sister, you know the object for which you were bestowed (on the Rishi;) If a son be born for the good of the snake race.
4. That greatly powerful being Will be able to save us from the Snake-sacrifice. The Grandsire told this to the celestials in olden times.
5. O Fortunate one, are you quick with child by that best of Rishis? My heart’s de- sire is that my bestowal of you on that wise man may not be fruitless.
6. It is not proper for me to ask you such a question, but I ask you from the gravity of the matter.
7. Knowing that it is not possible to get back your husband, ever engaged in severe asceticism, I shall not follow him; he may curse me.
8. O amiable sister, tell me all that your husband has done, and thereby (relieve me by drawing out the terribly painful dart that is implanted in my heart.
9. Jaratkaru, having been thus addressed, consoled the king of the snakes, Vasuki and spoke thus.
Jaratkaru said: -
10. Asked by me about offspring, the high-souled great ascetic said, “It is there,” and went away.
11. I do not remember him to have spoken a falsehood even in jest. O king, why should he then speak a falsehood in such a serious matters. He said,
12. “O Lady of the Naga race, do not grieve for the result of our union. A son will be born in you like a blazing fire.
13. O Brother, having said this, the Rishi, my husband, went away; therefore, let the great grief in your mind be removed.
Souti said: -
14. Having heard this, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, accepted the words of his sister, saying “Be it so.”
15. O Brahmana, the best of the snakes then adored his sister with best regards, with fitting eulogies and gifts of wealth.
16. O Best of the twice born, the great- ly powerful and effulgent embryo began to envelope like the moon in the white fortnight.
17. O Brahmana, the sister of the snake in due time gave birth to a son with the splendour of a celestial boy, the destroyers of the fears of (the relatives of) his father and mother.
18. He grew up in the house of the king of the snakes. He studied the Vedas with their Angas from the great Rishi Chyavana, the son of Brigu.
19. Though he was a mere boy, his asceticism was great; he was gifted with great intelligence and many virtues. He was known in the world by the name of Astika.
20. He was known by the name of Astika, because his father had gone away to the forest, saying Astika (one is there), when he was in his mother’s womb.
21. Though he was only a boy, yet he was grave and intelligent. He was kept with great care in the palace of the snake-king.
22. He was like the illustrious lord of the celestials, Shulapani (Shiva). He grew up day by day to the infinite delight of all the snakes.
Thus ends the forty eighth chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.