(Astika Parva continued)
Sauti said, "O thou of ascetic wealth, soon after her lord had left her,
Jaratkaru went to her brother. And she told him everything that had
happened. And the prince of snakes, hearing the calamitous news, spake
unto his miserable sister, himself more miserable still.
"And he said, 'Thou knowest, O amiable one, the purpose of thy bestowal,
the reason thereof. If, from that union, for the welfare of the snakes, a
son be born, then he, possessed of energy, will save us all from the snake-
sacrifice. The Grandsire had said so, of old, in the midst of the gods. O
fortunate one, hast thou conceived from thy union with that best of
Rishis? My heart's desire is that my bestowal of thee on that wise one may
not be fruitless. Truly, it is not proper for me to ask thee about this.
But from the gravity of the interests I ask thee this. Knowing also the
obstinacy of thy lord, ever engaged in severe penances, I shall not follow
him, for he may curse me. Tell me in detail all that thy lord, O amiable
one, hath done, and extract that terribly afflicting dart that lies
implanted for a long time past in my heart.'
"Jaratkaru, thus addressed, consoling Vasuki, the king of the snakes, at
length replied, saying, 'Asked by me about offspring, the high-souled and
mighty ascetic said, "There is,"--and then he went away. I do not remember
him to have ever before speak even in jest aught that is false. Why should
he, O king, speak a falsehood on such a serious occasion? He said, "Thou
shouldst not grieve, O daughter of the snake race, about the intended
result of our union. A son shall be born to thee, resplendent as the
blazing sun." O brother, having said this to me, my husband of ascetic
wealth went away--Therefore, let the deep sorrow cherished in thy heart
disappear.'"
Sauti continued, "Thus addressed, Vasuki, the king of the snakes,
accepted those words of his sister, and in great joy said, 'Be it so!' And
the chief of the snakes then adored his sister with his best regards, gift
of wealth, and fitting eulogies. Then, O best of Brahmanas, the embryo
endued with great splendour, began to develop, like the moon in the
heavens in the bright fortnight.
"And in due time, the sister of the snakes, O Brahmana, gave birth to a
son of the splendour of a celestial child, who became the reliever of
the fears of his ancestors and maternal relatives. The child grew up there
in the house of the king of the snakes. He studied the Vedas and their
branches with the ascetic Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu. And though but a
boy, his vows were rigid. And he was gifted with great intelligence, and
with the several attributes of virtue, knowledge, freedom from the world's
indulgences, and saintliness. And the name by which he was known to the
world was Astika. And he was known by the name of Astika (whoever is)
because his father had gone to the woods, saying. 'There is', when he was
in the womb. Though but a boy, he had great gravity and intelligence. And
he was reared with great care in the palace of the snakes. And he was like
the illustrious lord of the celestials, Mahadeva of the golden form, the
wielder of the trident. And he grew up day by day, the delight of all the
snakes."