Chapter 14

“Sauti said, ‘That Brahmana of rigid vows then wandered over the earthfor a wife but a wife found he not. One day he went into the forest, andrecollecting the words of his ancestors, he thrice prayed in a faintvoice for a bride.

Thereupon Vasuki rose and offered his sister for theRishi’s acceptance. But the Brahmana hesitated to accept her, thinkingher not to be of the same name with himself. The high-souled Jaratkaruthought within himself, ‘I will take none for wife who is not of the samename with myself.’ Then that Rishi of great wisdom and austere penancesasked him, saying, ‘Tell me truly what is the name of this thy sister, Osnake.’

“Vasuki replied, ‘O Jaratkaru, this my younger sister is calledJaratkaru. Given away by me, accept this slender-waisted damsel for thyspouse. O best of Brahmanas, for thee I reserved her. Therefore, takeher.’ Saying this, he offered his beautiful sister to Jaratkaru who thenespoused her with ordained rites.'”

So ends the thirteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.