Suta said: 'Then that brahmin, firm in his vows, roamed the earth seeking a wife, but found none. One day, coming to the forest and remembering his forefathers' words, he softly called out three times, asking for a maiden as alms. Then Vasuki, king of the serpents, raising up his sister, offered her; but Jaratkaru did not accept her, thinking, "not of my own name" — for it was fixed in the mind of great Jaratkaru: "I will take only a wife offered to me who bears my own name." The most wise and great ascetic Jaratkaru said to him: "What is the name of this sister of yours? Tell me the truth, O serpent." Vasuki said: "O Jaratkaru, the name of this younger sister of mine is Jaratkaru; she has long been kept for your sake — accept her, O best of the twice-born." Suta said: "For once, O best of the knowers of Brahman, the serpents were cursed by their mother: 'At Janamejaya's sacrifice, the fire whose charioteer is the wind will burn you.' To appease that curse, the best of serpents gave his sister to that sage, the ascetic of good vows. And he accepted her by rite, as is prescribed; and a son named Astika, great of soul, was born to her.'