ASTIKA PARVA: Chapter 14

Jaratkaru's marriage with Vasuki's sister

सौतिरुवाच ततो निवेशाय तदा स विप्रः संशितव्रतः। महीं चचार दारार्थी न च दारानविन्दतः॥
Sauti said : The Brahmana of hard austerities (Jaratkaru) roamed over the world for a wife, but he did not get a wife.

स कदाचिद्वनं गत्वा विप्रः पितृवचः स्मरन्। चुक्रोश कन्याभिक्षार्थी तिस्रो वाचः शनैरिव॥
One day he went into the forest and remembering the words of his ancestors, he thrice begged for a bride in a faint voice.

तं वासुकिः प्रत्यगृह्णादुद्यम्य भगिनीं तदा। न स तां प्रतिजग्राह न सनाम्नीति चिन्तयन्॥
Thereupon, Vasuki appeared and offered his sister for the Rishi's acceptance. But the Rishi hesitated to accept her, thinking her to be not of the same name with himself.

सनाम्नी चोद्यतां भार्यां गृह्णीयामिति तस्य हि। मनो निविष्टमभवज्जरत्कारोर्महात्मनः॥
The high-souled Jaratkaru thought within himself, “I will take none for my wife who does not bear my name."

तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञो जरत्करुमहातपाः। किं नाम्नी भगिनीयं ते ब्रूहि सत्यं भुजंगम॥
Then Jaratkaru, the great ascetic of rigid austerities, said, “O snake tell me truly what is the name of your sister?”

वासुकिरुवाच जरत्कारो जरत्कारुः स्वसेयमनुजा मम। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भार्यार्थे मया दत्तां सुमध्यमाम्। त्वदर्थं रक्षिता पूर्वं प्रतीच्छेमां द्विजोत्तम॥
Vasuki said: O Jaratkaru, my sister's name is also Jaratkaru. Given as a gift by me, accept this girl of slender waist for your wife. O best of the twice born, I had kept her in reserve for you. Therefore, take her.

एवमुक्त्वा ततः प्रादाद्भार्यार्थे वरवर्णिनीम्। स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
Saying this he offered his beautiful sister to Jaratkaru, who then married her according to the ordained rites.