Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/153

Rh been spoken in reference to those words of hers, Be it so. We wish to know the reason why thou didst not prevent her.—And Brahma thereupon replied,—The snakes have been many, cruel, terrible in form, and highly poisonous. From desire of the good of my creatures, I did not prevent her then. Those poisonous serpents that are always disposed to bite, they who bite for little faults, they who are sinful, biting for no faults, shall indeed be destroyed, not they who are harmless and virtuous. And hear ye, how, when the hour comes, the snakes may escape this dreadful calamity. There shall be born in the race of the Yayavaras a great Rishi known by the name of Jaratkaru, intelligent, given up to ascetic devotions, and having his passions under complete control. That Jaratkaru shall have a son also given up to ascetic penances, of name Astika. He shall put a stop to that sacrifice. And those snakes who shall be virtuous shall escape therefrom.—And the gods replied,—O thou truth-knowing one, in whom shall Jaratkaru that first of munis, gifted with great energy and asceticism, beget his illustrious son?—And Brahma answered,—Gifted with great energy, that best of Brahmanas shall beget a son possessed of great energy in a wife of the same name with him. Vasuki the king of the snakes hath a sister, of name Jaratkaru; the son of whom I speak shall be born in her, and he shall liberate the snakes.—'

"Elapatra continued, 'And the gods said unto the Grand-father—Be it so. And the lord Brahma having said so unto the gods went to heaven. O Vasuki, I see before me that sister of thine known by the name of Jaratkaru. For relieving us from fear, give her as alms unto him, the Rishi Jaratkaru, of excellent vows, who shall roam abegging for a bride. This means of release hath been heard of by me."

And so ends the thirty-eighth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.