Chapter 15

“Sauti said, ‘O foremost of persons acquainted with Brahma, the mother ofthe snakes had cursed them of old, saying, ‘He that hath the Wind for hischarioteer (viz., Agni) shall burn you all in Janamejaya’s sacrifice!’ Itwas to neutralise that curse that the chief of the snakes married hissister to that high-souled Rishi of excellent vows.

The Rishi wedded heraccording to the rites ordained (in the scriptures), and from them wasborn a high-souled son called Astika. An illustrious ascetic; versed inthe Vedas and their branches, he regarded all with an even eye, andremoved the fears of both his parents.

“Then, after a long space of time, a king descending from the Pandavaline celebrated a great sacrifice known as the Snake-sacrifice, Afterthat sacrifice had commenced for the destruction of the snakes, Astikadelivered the Nagas, viz., his brothers and maternal uncles and othersnakes (from a fiery death). And he delivered his fathers also bybegetting offspring. And by his austerities, O Brahmana, and various vowsand study of the Vedas, he freed himself from all his debts. Bysacrifices, at which various kinds of offerings were made, he propitiatedthe gods. By practising the Brahmacharya mode of life he conciliated theRishis; and by begetting offspring he gratified his ancestors.

“Thus Jaratkaru of rigid vows discharged the heavy debt he owed to hissires who being thus relieved from bondage ascended to heaven. Thushaving acquired great religious merit, Jaratkaru, after a long course ofyears, went to heaven, leaving Astika behind. There is the story ofAstika that I have related duly Now, tell me, O tiger of Bhrigu’s race,what else I shall narrate.”

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