Shloka 1
आस्तीक-उपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः | Introduction to the Āstīka Narrative
ऑपनआक्रात बछ। अ--क्ाज (आस्तीकपर्व) त्रयोदशो 5 ध्याय: जरत्कारुका अपने पितरोंके अनुरोधसे विवाहके लिये उद्यत होना शौनक उवाच किमर्थ राजशार्दूल: स राजा जनमेजय: । सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतो<न्तं तद् वदस्व मे
Śaunaka uvāca: kimarthaṁ rājarṣabhaḥ sa rājā Janamejayaḥ | sarpasatreṇa sarpāṇāṁ gato 'ntaṁ tad vadasva me ||
Śaunaka sprach: „Aus welchem Grund brachte König Janamejaya—der Vortrefflichste unter den Königen—das Schlangenopfer (sarpasatra) bis an den Punkt, die Schlangen zu vernichten? Sage es mir.“
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into motive and consequence: a ruler’s actions—especially violent or destructive acts performed under the cover of ritual—must be examined for their underlying cause (often anger or vengeance) and their dharmic legitimacy.
At the start of the Āstīka-parvan section, Śaunaka asks why King Janamejaya pursued the serpent-sacrifice to the point of annihilating the serpents, prompting the narrator to explain the background that led to the sarpasatra.