By “(Rishi) Shaunaka said, ‘O son of Soota, I desire to know the reason why the illustrious Rishi whom you have named Jaratkaaru came to be so called on earth. It is your responsibility to tell us the etymology of the name Jaratkaaru. (Here Rishi Shaunaka asks Soota that why Jaratkaaru got the name Jaratkaaru)’
“Soota said, ‘Jara is said to mean waste, and Kaaru implies huge. This Rishi’s body had been huge, and he gradually reduced it by severe Tapas. O Brahmanas, for the same reason the sister of Vaasuki was called Jaratkaaru.’
“The Dharmaatma (Rishi) Shaunaka, when he heard this, smiled and addressing Ugrashravas (Soota) said, ‘It is so.’
“(Rishi) Shaunaka then said, ‘I have heard all that you have before recited. I desire to know how Aastika was born.’
“Soota, on hearing these words, began to narrate according to what was written in the Shaastraas.
“Soota said, ‘Vaasuki, desirous of bestowing his sister upon the Rishi Jaratkaaru, gave the snakes (necessary) orders. But days went on, yet that wise Muni of rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), deeply engaged in Tapas, did not seek for a wife. That high-souled Rishi (Jaratkaaru), engaged in studies and deeply devoted to Tapas, his vital (reproductive) seed under full control, fearlessly wandered over the whole earth and had no wish for a wife.
“O Brahmana (Rishi Shaunaka), afterwards, once upon a time, there was a king of the name of Parikshit (son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjuna), born in the race of the Kauravaas. Like his great-grandfather Paandu of ancient times, he (Parikshit) was of mighty arms, the first of all bearers of bows in battle, and fond of hunting. The monarch (Parikshit) wandered about, hunting deer, wild boars, wolves, buffaloes and various other kinds of wild animals.
“One day, having pierced a deer with a sharp arrow and threw his bow on his back, he (Parikshit) penetrated into the deep forest, searching for the animal here and there, like the ancient illustrious Rudra Himself pursuing in the heavens with bow in hand, the deer which was yagna, itself turned into that shape, after the piercing. No deer that was pierced by Parikshit had ever escaped in the forest with life. This deer, however wounded as before, fled with speed, as the (near) cause of the king’s (Parikshit’s) attainment to heaven.
“The deer that Parikshit – that king of men – had pierced was lost to his sight and drew the monarch (Parikshit) far away into the forest. Tired and thirsty, he came across a Muni (named Shameeka), in the forest, seated in a cow-enclosure and drinking to his fill the froth oozing out of the mouths of calves sucking the milk of their mother. Approaching him quickly, the monarch (Parikshit), hungry and tried, and raising his bow, asked that Muni (Shameeka) of rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), saying, ‘O Brahmana, I am king Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu. A deer pierced by me has been lost. Have you seen it?’
“But that Muni (Shameeka) observing then the vow of silence (Mouna Vrata in Sanskrit), spoke not a word to him. The king (Parikshit) in anger immediately placed upon his shoulder a dead snake, taking it up with the end of his bow. The Muni (Shameeka) allowed him to do it without protest. He spoke not a word, good or bad. The king seeing him in that state, let off his anger and became sorry. He returned to his capital but the Rishi continued in the same state (carrying the dead snake). The forgiving Muni, knowing that the monarch (Parikshit) who was a tiger among kings was true to the duties of his (Kshatriya) varna, did not curse him, though (the Rishi himself) insulted. That tiger among monarchs (Parikshit), that foremost one of Bharata’s race, also did not know that the person whom he had so insulted was a Dharmic Rishi. It was for this that he had so insulted him.
“That Rishi (Shameeka) had a son by name Sringee, of tender years, gifted with great energy, deep in great Tapas, severe in his vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), very short tempered, and difficult to be calmed down. At times, he worshipped with great attention and respect his Guru seated with ease on his seat and ever engaged in the good of creatures.
“O best of Brahmanas (Rishi Shaunaka), commanded by his Guru, he (Sringee) was coming home when a companion of his, a Rishi’s son named Krisha in a playful mood laughingly spoke to him. Sringee, angered and like to poison itself, hearing these words in reference to his father (Rishi Shameeka), blazed up in anger.’
“Krisha said, ‘Be not proud, O Sringee, for Rishi as you are and possessed of energy, your father bears on his shoulders a dead snake. Henceforth speak not a word to sons of Rishis like ourselves who have knowledge of the truth, are deep in severe Tapas, and have attained success. Where is that manliness of yours, those high words of yours produced of pride, when you must have to see your father (Rishi Shameeka) bearing a dead snake? O best of all the Munis (Sringee), your father too had done nothing to deserve this treatment, and it is for this that I am particularly sorry as if the punishment were mine.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA – PART 40 – THE HUNT OF KING PARIKSHIT
