आस्तीककथाप्रारम्भः — Beginning of the Āstīka Narrative
Kadrū–Vinatā, Aruṇa and Garuḍa Origins
स कदाचिद् वन गत्वा विप्र: पितृवच: स्मरन् । चुक्रोश कन्याभिक्षार्थी तिस्रो वाच: शनैरिव,एक दिन किसी वनमें जाकर विप्रवर जरत्कारुने पितरोंक वचनका स्मरण करके कन्याकी भिक्षाके लिये तीन बार धीरे-धीरे पुकार लगायी--“कोई भिक्षारूपमें कन्या दे जाय”
sa kadācid vana gatvā vipraḥ pitṛvacaḥ smaran | cukrośa kanyābhikṣārthī tisro vācaḥ śanair iva ||
এদিন সেই বিপ্ৰ বনত গ’ল। পিতৃবাক্য সুঁৱৰি, বিবাহাৰ্থে ভিক্ষাৰূপে কন্যা প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰি তেওঁ ধীৰে ধীৰে তিনিবাৰ মাত দিলে—“কোনে কন্যাদান কৰিব?”
शौनक उवाच
The verse highlights pitṛ-dharma: even an ascetic must heed ancestral responsibility. Marriage here is portrayed as a duty undertaken to repay the debt to forefathers and preserve the family line, not merely as personal desire.
Jaratkāru goes to a forest and, remembering his ancestors’ instruction, calls out three times in a gentle voice asking if anyone will give him a maiden as a charitable gift—signaling his intent to marry for fulfilling an obligation.