Shloka 20
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
पारीक्षित इति श्रुत्वा प्राहर्त्विज उदारधी: । सहेन्द्रस्तक्षको विप्रा नाग्नौ किमिति पात्यते ॥ २० ॥
pārīkṣita iti śrutvā prāhartvija udāra-dhīḥ sahendras takṣako viprā nāgnau kim iti pātyate
فلما سمع الملك جنميجيا الحكيم ذلك قال للكهنة: إذن يا أيها البراهمة، لِمَ لا نُسقِط تَكْشَكَ في النار مع حاميه إندرا؟
FAQs
Because the victim of Takṣaka’s bite was King Parīkṣit, and the priest—being broad-minded—checks the impulse for revenge, questioning the need to forcibly drag Takṣaka into the sacrificial fire even if Indra tries to protect him.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the episode to Parīkṣit, and within the narration the officiating priest addresses the assembled brāhmaṇas during the serpent-sacrifice, questioning the act of hurling Takṣaka into the fire.
It cautions against reactive vengeance and promotes restraint and discernment—especially when emotions and group momentum push toward punishment rather than dharmic clarity.