Shloka 2
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 ||
Minsan, pumasok sa gubat ang brahmanang si Jaratkāru. Inalala niya ang utos ng kanyang mga ninuno, at humihingi ng isang dalaga bilang limos para sa pag-aasawa; kaya marahan siyang tumawag nang tatlong ulit: “May magbibigay ba ng isang dalaga bilang handog na limos?” Ipinapakita ng tagpong ito na ang pag-aasawa ay hindi luho ng sarili, kundi tungkuling ginagawa upang parangalan ang pananagutan sa mga ninuno at mapanatili ang angkan.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.