Shloka 21
Takṣaka’s agency, Parīkṣit’s rites, and Janamejaya’s enthronement (वैयासिक परम्परा-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्य स्कन्धे मृतं सर्प क्रुद्धो राजा समासजत् । समुत्क्षिप्प धनुष्कोट्या स चैनं समुपैक्षत,तब राजाने कुपित हो धनुषकी नोकसे एक मरे हुए साँपको उठाकर उनके कंधेपर रख दिया, तो भी मुनिने उनकी उपेक्षा कर दी
tasya skandhe mṛtaṃ sarpaṃ kruddho rājā samāsajat | samutkṣipya dhanuṣkoṭyā sa cainaṃ samupaikṣata ||
Seeing the sage remain indifferent, the king—angered—lifted a dead snake with the tip of his bow and placed it upon the sage’s shoulder. Even then, the ascetic paid him no heed, maintaining his detached composure. The episode shows how unchecked royal anger and wounded pride can turn into disrespect toward a self-controlled holy man, while the sage’s silence embodies forbearance and inner steadiness.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two dispositions: the king’s anger-driven impulsiveness and the sage’s disciplined indifference. Ethically, it warns that pride and irritation can push even a ruler into adharma—disrespecting a holy person—while true tapas is shown through restraint and non-reactivity.
A king, frustrated that the sage does not respond to him, uses the tip of his bow to lift a dead snake and places it on the sage’s shoulder as an insult. The sage remains unmoved and ignores the act, setting the stage for the later consequences connected with this offense.