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Sauti continued:
The words of his ancestors weighed heavily upon Jaratkaru's heart.
For his entire life, he had been determined never to marry.
Yet he could not ignore the suffering of his forefathers.
At last he spoke to them:
“I have always resolved to remain unmarried.
That has been the guiding principle of my life.
But for your sake, I shall take a wife.
I will do so only to ensure the continuation of our lineage and to save you from this fate.”
Then he added a condition.
“However, I will marry only under certain circumstances.
If I can find a woman who ets those conditions, I shall wed her according to sacred law.
Otherwise, I will not.”
The ancestors listened carefully.
Jaratkaru continued:
“The woman must bear the sa na as I do.
And she must be willingly given to by her relatives, not sought through wealth or negotiation.
I possess nothing.
I am a poor wandering ascetic.
Who would willingly give his daughter to a man like ?
Therefore, I shall accept a wife only if she is offered to freely, as one might offer alms to a ndicant.
Only then will I marry.”
Then he bowed before his ancestors and said:
“For your sake I will make this effort.
If such a marriage cos to pass, a child will be born from it.
That child will save you from your present suffering.
You shall attain a blessed and eternal state and know happiness once more.”
Having made this promise, Jaratkaru took his leave.
The ancestors watched him go, placing all their hopes upon him.
Thereafter the great ascetic began wandering across the earth in search of a suitable bride.
Yet the task proved almost impossible.
Everywhere he traveled, he found no woman who satisfied his unusual conditions.
Years seed to pass without success.
Still, rembering the plight of his ancestors, he refused to give up.
One day he entered a lonely forest.
Standing beneath the trees, he rembered his promise.
Then, in a soft voice, he called out three tis:
“Is there anyone who will give a maiden in charity?
Is there anyone who will give a maiden in charity?
Is there anyone who will give a maiden in charity?”
His voice echoed through the forest.
To his surprise, soone answered.
The great serpent king Vasuki appeared before him.
The lord of the naga race had been waiting for this very mont.
Stepping forward respectfully, Vasuki said:
“Revered sage, I will give you my sister as your wife.”
For a mont Jaratkaru was silent.
Then doubt entered his mind.
His condition had been very specific.
The maiden must bear the sa na as his own.
Surely a naga princess would not be called Jaratkaru.
Because of this, he hesitated to accept the offer.
At last he turned to Vasuki and asked:
“O serpent king, tell truthfully—
what is your sister's na?”
The answer to that question would determine not only Jaratkaru's future, but also the fate of the entire serpent race, for from this marriage would one day be born the sage Astika, destined to save the nagas from destruction.
Vasuki smiled and answered the sage's question.
“O Jaratkaru, my younger sister bears the very sa na as you.
She too is called Jaratkaru.
For a long ti, I have protected and cared for her, waiting for the day when you would co.
Therefore, O best of Brahmins, accept her as your wife.”
Sauti then explained the deeper reason behind Vasuki's eagerness.
Long ago, the serpent race had been cursed by their own mother.
A terrible fate had been foretold: one day, during the great Snake Sacrifice of King Janajaya, countless serpents would be dragged into the sacrificial fire and destroyed.
Knowing of this curse, Vasuki had searched desperately for a way to save his people.
Prophecy had revealed that a child born from the union of the sage Jaratkaru and the naga maiden Jaratkaru would beco the savior of the serpent race.
Therefore, the serpent king had carefully guarded his sister, waiting for the destined mont when the sage would appear.
Now that mont had arrived.
Jaratkaru accepted the maiden according to the sacred rites prescribed by tradition.
Their marriage was solemnized, and in due course a son was born to them.
That child was Astika.
From his earliest years, Astika displayed extraordinary qualities.
He was wise beyond his age, devoted to ascetic practice, and thoroughly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas.
His mind was impartial, his conduct righteous, and his wisdom respected by all.
In ti, he would beco the protector of both sides of his heritage.
Through his father, he belonged to a line of great sages.
Through his mother, he belonged to the race of serpents.
And one day, when the serpent race stood on the brink of extinction, Astika would save them from destruction.
Many years later, a king descended from the Pandavas would perform the famous Snake Sacrifice.
The ritual was intended to annihilate the entire serpent race.
As thousands of serpents were drawn helplessly into the blazing sacrificial fire, the ancient curse upon the nagas began to unfold.
But at that critical mont, Astika intervened.
Through his wisdom, righteousness, and eloquence, he halted the sacrifice and rescued the surviving serpents.
In doing so, he saved his maternal uncles, his naga relatives, and countless mbers of the serpent race.
Yet Astika's achievents did not end there.
Through his asceticism, learning, and observance of sacred vows, he honored the sages.
Through sacrifices and generous offerings, he satisfied the gods.
Through continuing his family line, he fulfilled his obligations to his ancestors.
Thus he freed himself from every debt that a man owes—to gods, sages, and forefathers alike.
Because of Astika's birth and accomplishnts, the mission that had compelled Jaratkaru to marry was fulfilled.
The burden that weighed upon his ancestors was finally lifted.
Their lineage was preserved.
Their suffering ended.
And in ti, Jaratkaru, having completed his duties and lived according to the highest righteousness, ascended to heaven together with his forefathers.
Sauti concluded:
“Thus have I narrated the story of Astika as it was handed down through the ancient tradition.
Having heard this account, O descendant of Bhrigu, tell —what further tale would you like to hear?”
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