Jaratkaru tells Astika of his duty to save the snakes
Jaratkaru, the snake woman, calls her son Astika and tells him the time has come for the purpose of her marriage. When Astika asks for the full story, she reveals the ancient curse upon the snakes and the prophecy that he, alone, can save them.
The snake woman Jaratkaru called her son. "O son! The time has come for attaining the objective for which my brother had given me to your father. Therefore, do what is necessary."
Astika asked the necessary question. "Why were you given by my uncle to my father? Tell me in detail, so that I can do what is necessary."
Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of snakes, wished to bring about the welfare of her relatives. She resolutely told him the story. The mother of all snakes was Kadru. In anger over a lost wager, she had cursed her own sons: 'O sons! You have refused to change the colour of Ucchaihshrava, the king of horses, despite my asking and because of the wager, have made me a slave to Vinata. Therefore, the god of fire will burn you in Janamejaya’s sacrifice. Thus being reduced to the five elements, you will go to the land of the dead.' The great god Brahma, the grandfather of all the worlds, had heard this curse and approved it.
When Vasuki heard this curse, he sought refuge with the gods. After the churning of the ocean, the gods went to Brahma with Vasuki leading the way. They all sought to placate the grandfather so that the curse might have no effect. "O lord! Vasuki, the king of snakes, feels sorry for his relatives. How can his mother’s curse be rendered ineffective?"
Brahma had given the prophecy that was her son's destiny. "Jaratkaru will marry a wife named Jaratkaru. The Brahmana who will be born will save the snakes from the curse."
Hearing this, Vasuki had given her to the great-souled sage Jaratkaru. "You were born from me and your father. That time has now come and you should save us from the fear. You should save me and my brother from the fire, so that the reason for which I was given to your wise father is not rendered futile. O son! What do you think?"
On hearing his mother's words, Astika agreed.