बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा मुखेन परिशुष्यता। कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा पर्यश्रुनयना ततः
With words choked by tears, her face parched, hands joined in reverence, and eyes filled with tears, that noble lady spoke.
धैर्यमालम्ब्य वामोरूर्हृदयेन प्रवेपता। न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परित्यक्तुमनागसम्
Steadying herself, though her left thigh trembled with emotion, she said: ‘O knower of righteousness, you should not abandon me, who am without fault.’
धर्मे स्थितां स्थितो धर्मे सदा प्रियहिते रताम्। प्रदाने कारणं यच्च मम तुभ्यं द्विजोत्तम
I have remained steadfast in righteousness, devoted always to what is dear and beneficial to you; and the reason for my being given to you, O best of Brāhmaṇas—
तदलब्धवतीं मन्दां किं मां वक्ष्यति वासुकिः। मातृशापाभिभूतानां ज्ञातीनां मम सत्तम
If I, unfortunate and unsuccessful, have not obtained that, what will Vāsuki say of me, who am among relatives afflicted by our mother’s curse, O best of men?
अपत्यमीप्सितं त्वत्तस्तच्च तावन्न दृश्यते। त्वत्तो ह्यपत्यलाभेन ज्ञातीनां मे शिवं भवेत्
The offspring desired from you has not yet appeared; by obtaining a child from you, my relatives would find well-being.
संप्रयोगो भवेन्नायां मम मोघस्त्वया द्विज। ज्ञातीनां हितमिच्छन्ती भगवंस्त्वां प्रसादये
This union with you, O Brāhmaṇa, should not be in vain for me; desiring the welfare of my relatives, O lord, I entreat you.
इममव्यक्तरूपं मे गर्भमाधाय सत्तम। कथं त्यक्त्वा महात्मा सन्गन्तुमिच्छस्यनागसम्
Having placed this indistinct embryo within me, O noble one, how can you, great-souled one, wish to abandon me and go to the serpents?
एवमुक्तस्तु स मुनिर्भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत्। यद्युक्तमनुरूपं च जरत्कारुं तपोधनः
Thus addressed, the sage, rich in austerity, spoke to his wife: ‘If your words are fitting and proper, O Jaratkāru—’
अस्त्ययं सुभगे गर्भस्तव वैश्वानरोपमः। ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
‘O fortunate one, you do indeed have a child in your womb, blazing like fire—a sage, supremely righteous, learned in the Vedas and their branches.’
एवमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा जरत्कारुर्महानृषिः। उग्राय तपसे भूयो जगाम कृतनिश्चयः
Having spoken thus, that righteous and great sage Jaratkāru, firm in his resolve, departed again for severe austerities.
गतमात्रं तु भर्तारं जरत्कारुरवेदयत्। भ्रातुः सकाशमागत्य यथातथ्यं तपोधन
As soon as her husband had departed, Jaratkāru went to her brother and reported everything exactly as it had happened, O ascetic.
ततः स भुजगश्रेष्ठः श्रुत्वा सुमहदप्रियम्। उवाच भगिनीं दीनां तदा दीनतरः स्वयम्
Then that foremost of serpents, hearing the great misfortune, became even more dejected and spoke to his sorrowful sister.
जानासि भद्रे यत्कार्यं प्रदाने कारणं च यत्। पन्नगानां हितार्थाय पुत्रस्ते स्यात्ततो यदि
You know, O gentle lady, what is to be done and the reason for giving; if it is for the welfare of the serpents, let your son be for that purpose.
स सर्पसत्रात्किल नो मोक्षयिष्यति वीर्यवान्। एवं पितामहः पूर्वमुक्तवांस्तु सुरैः सह
He, endowed with great energy, will surely deliver us from the snake-sacrifice; thus was it formerly declared by the Grandsire together with the gods.
अप्यस्ति गर्भः सुभगे तस्मात्ते मुनिसत्तमात्। न चेच्छाम्यफलं तस्य दारकर्म मनीषिणः
O fortunate one, is there a child in your womb from that best of sages? I do not wish that the effort of that wise one should be fruitless.
कामं च मम न न्याय्यं प्रष्टुं त्वां कार्यमीदृशम्। किंतु कार्यगरीयस्त्वात्ततस्त्वाऽहमचूचुदम्
Indeed, it is not proper for me to question you about such a matter; yet, because the matter is so weighty, I have asked you.
दुर्वार्यतां विदित्वा च भर्तुस्तेऽतितपस्विनः। नैनमन्वागमिष्यामि कदाचिद्धि शपेत्स माम्
Knowing the great austerity of your husband and his difficult nature, I will never pursue him, lest he should curse me.
आचक्ष्व भद्रे भर्तुः स्वं सर्वमेव विचेष्टितम्। उद्धरस्व च शल्यं मे घोरं हृदि चिरस्थितम्
Tell me, O gentle one, all your husband's actions; and remove from my heart the grievous thorn that has long been lodged there.
जरत्कारुस्ततो वाक्यमित्युक्ता प्रत्यभाषत। आश्वासयन्ती सन्तप्तं वासुकिं पन्नगेश्वरम्
Thus addressed, Jaratkaru replied to him, consoling the distressed Vasuki, lord of the serpents.
पृष्टो मयाऽपत्यहेतोः स महात्मा महातपाः। अस्तीत्युत्तरमुद्दिश्य ममेदं गतवांश्च सः
That great-souled, austere one was questioned by me for the sake of offspring; he gave the answer 'There is,' and then departed from me.
स्वैरेष्वपि न तेनाहं स्मरामि वितथं वचः। उक्तपूर्वं कुतो राजन्सांपराये स वक्ष्यति
Even among his own, I do not recall him ever speaking falsely; what was once spoken by him, O king, he will fulfill in due time.
न संतापस्त्वया कार्यः कार्यं प्रति भुजंगमे। उत्पत्स्यति च ते पुत्रो ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभः
You should not be troubled, O serpent, regarding this matter; a son will be born to you, radiant as fire and the sun.
इत्युक्त्वा स हि मां भ्रातर्गतो भर्ता तपोधनः। तस्माद्व्येतु परं दुःखं तवेदं मनसि स्थितम्
Having said this, my husband, rich in austerity, departed, O brother; therefore, let this great sorrow that dwells in your heart be dispelled.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स नागेन्द्रो वासुकिः परया मुदा। एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं भगिन्याः प्रत्यगृह्णत
Hearing this, the king of serpents, Vasuki, with great joy, accepted his sister's words, saying, 'So be it.'
सान्त्वमानार्थदानैश्च पूजया चारुरूपया। सोदर्यां पूजयामास स्वसारं पन्नगोत्तमः
With soothing words, gifts, and honor, the best of serpents worshipped his own sister, who was of lovely form.
ततः प्रववृधे गर्भो महातेजा महाप्रभः। यथा मोमो द्विजश्रेष्ठ शुक्लपक्षोदितो दिवि
Then the embryo, possessing great energy and brilliance, grew, O best of Brahmins, like the waxing moon in the bright fortnight.
अथ काले तु सा ब्रह्मन्प्रजज्ञे भुजगस्वसा। कुमारं देवगर्भाभं पितृमातृभयापहम्
Then, in due time, O Brahmin, the sister of the serpent king gave birth to a boy, resembling a divine child, who removed the fear of both father and mother.
ववृधे स तु तत्रैव नागराजनिवेशने। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गान्भार्गवच्यवनात्मजात्
He grew up there itself, in the house of the serpent king, and learned the Vedas with their branches from the son of Bhrigu, Chyavana.
चीर्णव्रतो बाल एव बुद्धिसत्त्वगुणान्वितः। नाम चास्याभवत्ख्यातं लोकेष्वास्तीक इत्युत
Even as a boy, he performed vows, was endowed with intelligence, virtue, and good qualities; and his name became known in the world as Astika.
अस्तीत्युक्त्वा गतो यस्मात्पिता गर्भस्थमेव तम्। वनं तस्मादिदं तस्य नामास्तीकेति विश्रुतम्
Because his father, while he was still in the womb, departed saying 'He exists,' therefore he became widely known by the name Astika.