10. Dundubha’s previous history, the story of aasteeka.

Ruru said: “My beloved wife was bitten by a snake earlier. At that time I had taken a terrible decision to kill all the snakes I saw. So I am killing you and giving you moksha.” Dundubha said: “Bramhin! Snakes that bite humans are different. Therefore, it is not right for you to torture the Dundubhas.

Dundubha and snakes seem to be the same but they are different when it comes to happiness. Dundubha and snakes, though different in nature, are considered to be the same when it comes to suffering. You follow righteousness. It is not right for you to torture Dundubhas.”

Suta said: “Hearing these words of the serpent, sage Ruru did not kill Dundubha, who was fearful. Calming him down, Lord Ruru asked: “Bhujaga! Tell me who you are and how you got this form.” Dundubha said: “Ruru! Formerly I was a sage named Sahasrapada. I became a dundubha after getting cursed by a bramhin”.

Ruru said: “Bhujagottama! For what reason were you cursed by the enraged bramhin? How long do you have to stay like this?”

Dundubha said: “Formerly I had a friend named Khagama, a man of great strength and harmony who always spoke the truth. While playing as a child I turned a stick of grass into a snake and scared him who had involved himself in doing Agnihotra and he fainted.

After regaining consciousness, that truthful khagama said out of anger heartlessly: "Just as I was frightened by a lifeless serpent, you will become a harmless serpent because of my wrath." Realizing the power of penance which he had gained by practicing penance, I bowed my head in sorrow with a strained heart to khagama and said: “I did all this to charm you. Hey Brahmin! So forgive me and withdraw this curse.”

Seeing me sad and tense, that khagama said with pity, exhaling hotly: "What I said will not turn out to be false. It will happen anyway. Now listen carefully to what I am saying and keep this in your heart. When you see the son of Shuchi Pramati named Ruru, you will be freed from the curse.” You are Ruru, the son of that famous Shuchi Pramati. Now that I have assumed my former form I am speaking for your sake.

Nonviolence is the supreme religion. Do not kill any living being. So it is said that one who is a Brahmin should never end the life of others and should not torture them. According to one sruthi a Brahmin should always be gentle. Knowing the Vedas, he should be able to give shelter to all beings.

Non-violence, truth-telling, forgiveness and following the Vedas are certainly the supreme dharma of a Brahmin. The religion you are following now is not yours. That is the Kshatriya religion. Punishment, being cruel and caring for the subjects are all the karmas of a Kshatriya.

Ask me about Dharmatma Janamejaya torturing snakes in the past. Ruru! A Brahmin named asteeka, saved the terrified serpents in the Sarpasatra.” Ruru said: “bramhin! How and for what reason did Kshatriya Janamejaya torture the serpents? Explain why those snakes were saved by the aasteeka. I want to listen without leaving anything out.”

The sage said: “Ruru! When the Brahmins narrate the story, you listen to the story of the great asteeka.” Saying this, he disappeared. Suta said: “Ruru searched the entire forest for that sage. Exhausted by the search, he fainted and fell on the ground. Ruru woke up and asked his father to tell the story. Then his father told the whole story.”

Shaunaka said: “Tell me why the King Janamejaya of Rajashardula decided to destroy the serpents at Sarpasatra. For what reason did the greatest Aasteeka, save those Bhujagas[snake like creatures] from the burning fire? Whose son was the king who undertook that Sarpasatra? And whose son is man? Tell me.”

Suta said: “O bramhin, the great orator! Listen fully to this great story of the asteeka, which has been told in the past.” Shaunaka said: “Want to hear the whole story of that successful Brahmin aasteeka in a beautiful way.”

Suta said: “The elders consider this history to be a purana told by Krishnadvaipayana to the people of Naimisaranya. In the past, my father the disciple of Vyasa, the genius, Suta Lomaharshana said this as per the request of the Brahmins. Shaunaka! As per your request, I will tell you this aasteeka story that I heard there.

The father of aasteeka was born in the family of Yayavara, that pious, learned great sage was known as Jaratkaru. Once while walking around he found his ancestors hanging in a deep well with their heads down and legs up. Seeing his forefathers, Jaratkaru addressed them and said: "Who are you hanging upside down holding this thread, which is being completely eaten up by the rats living mysteriously nearby?"

The ancestors said: “We are sages named Samshitavrata Yayavara. We are falling below this plateau due to lack of progeny. Our only progeny, the less fortunate, is jaratkaru. That wretch is constantly engaged in penance. That fool is not trying to get sons from his wife. So we are hanging on to this well like this out of desire for children.

Despite having the means, we have descended into this act. Who are you to pity us? Brahmin! We want to know who you are standing here and why you are taking pity on us.” Jaratkaru said: “You are my ancestors, my forefathers. That jaratkaru is me. Tell me what to do for you.”

The forefathers said: “Child! Try for your own sake and for ours and also for the wellbeing of your children. This is righteousness. The position obtained by producing sons is not obtained by accumulating practicing penance. So son! Try for children. This alone makes us feel great.”

Jaratkaru said: “It was always in my mind not to get a wife. But I will do the work of getting a wife for your sake. When the time comes, I will do it as well. But on my own terms. No otherwise. That maiden must bear my name and she must be willingly given as alms to me by her relatives. Who will give me a wife, who am especially wretched? But if someone gives me alms, I will accept her.

Father! I will marry a wife found in this way. I will not marry any other way. I will beget a son in her for the salvation of you, my fathers, and for you to have an eternal seat and be happy.”

Suta said: “Then Samshitavrata bramhin set out and wandered all over in search of a wife. However, he did not get a wife. Once that bramhin went to the forest and, remembering the words of his fathers, cried three times in a low voice as a beggar for a maiden. Then Vasuki brought his younger sister and handed her over. But he did not accept her, thinking that her name and his should not be the same.

Mahatma Jaratkaru thought to himself: "I will not take anyone as a wife who does not bear my name." Then Jaratkaru asked him: “Bhujangama! What is your sister's name? Speak the truth.”

Vasuki said: “Jaratkaru! My sister’s name is also Jaratkaru. I have protected her for you for a long time. Bramhin! Accept her with joy.” The Suta said: “Greatest among the Brahmins! In the past, the serpents were cursed by their own mother like this "In the yagna of Janamejaya, may you be burnt by the fire agni." The serpent vasuki gave his sister to that sage to calm down the curse. That Mahatma accepted her and begot a son by her named Astika. Asteeka was an ascetic, a Mahatma, well-versed in the Vedas, one who saw everything in the world as equal, and who removed the fears of parents.

After a long time, the king born in the Pandava dynasty, undertook the Mahayagna known as Sarpasatra. While the destruction of the serpents was going on in that satra, Astika freed them from their curse.

Through his self-restraint, various vows and austerities, the Brahmin redeemed the nagas, brother-in-law, other relatives, fathers and became free of debt from them. He satisfied the deities with various sacrifices accompanied by currency and he satisfied the sages with celibacy and the fathers with progeny. Thus paying off the great debt of his forefathers, Jaratkaru joined his forefathers in heaven.Jaratkaru’s son aateeka reached heaven after a very long time.

What I have just told is the story of aasteeka. Bhrigushardula! What more story should I tell?”