Mahabharata episode - 31 Jaratkarupitrudarshana

The Suta said: “At the same time, the great sage Jaratkaru was wandering over the entire earth, staying wherever he happened to be in the evening.

He was performing tasks that even great ascetics would find impossible, and he was wandering around taking holy baths in holy places.

He was starving and drying his body day after day, consuming only air. Once he saw his ancestors hanging upside down in a well.

They were hanging by a single root of the veerana tree, which had been eaten and digested by the rats that lived in that very hole.

Having fallen down without food and having no strength to get up, he approached the humble ones and said:

“Who are you, who are hanging by this root of the veerana tree, which is weak and eaten by the rats that live in this very hole?

The thread of the veerana tree that you are holding is being eaten by the rats and is slowly being torn apart.

There is no doubt that you will fall headlong into this deep well.

I am very sad to see you face downwards. Tell me what you would like me to do.

If I can relieve this distress of yours with a quarter or a third or a half of my power of penance, tell me quickly.

Or, tell me if all your troubles can be relieved with the power of my complete penance. I am ready for that too.”

The forefathers ie the pitrus said: “Brahmachari! You want to save us. But your penance cannot save us.

Child! We too have the great fruits of penance. But Brahmin! We are falling into this hell due to lack of offspring.

Child! Our knowledge and talent hanging here is diminishing. Therefore, although you are famous throughout the world in manhood, we are not able to recognize you.

You are worthy of worship, Mahabhaga. You are the sympathizer of our sorrows. Dvija! Listen to us to know who we are and why we are sorrowing.

We are the sages of the Sansitavrata named Yaayaavara. Due to lack of offspring, we are corrupted from the world of merit.

Our merits of penance have not yet been completely destroyed. Therefore, we have this thread as a support. But this support of root which we are holding is like not having at all as it may break down anytime.

Our remaining little fortune lies in our unfortunate relative, the only one of our clan. He is known as Jaratkaru, a great soul, versed in the Vedas, a good man, a great soul.

But we are in this situation because of his penance. He has no wife, son or relatives.

That is why we are hanging in this well, feeling lost and orphaned. If you see him, tell him this out of pity for us.

“Your forefathers are hanging in a well, humble and face down. O saint! Have a wife and have children. You alone are their only lineage.”

Brahmin! This root of the hero that we are holding is the only lineage that can continue our lineage.

Brahmin! The one who is eating this root that is digested as you see it is Kala (time).

Brahmin! This half-eaten and digested root that we are holding and hanging is the one who is engaged in other penances.

Brahmin! The rat that you are seeing is Kala, the bahabali. He is slowly eating the sluggish, insensible, heat-loving and austere Jaratkaru.

 His penance will not save us. Our very roots are broken, and our minds have been wounded by time. See how we are descending like sinners in this hell!

If we sink into this depth with our ancestors, then he too, torn apart by time, will join us in the hell.

Child! Neither penance, nor sacrifice, nor any other great meritorious deed - the opinion of the truthful is that none of them is equal to having offspring.

Child! If you see the great sage Jaratkaru, tell him exactly what you have seen here and what we have said.

If he wants to save us by marrying a wife and having a son, Brahmin! You must inform him of this.”

This is the forty-first chapter of the Mahabharata, Adiparva, Astikaparva, called Jaratkarupitrudarshan.