Shloka 11
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
आशीविषस्तिग्मतेजा मद्वाक्यबलचोदित: । सप्तरात्रादित: पापं पश्य मे तपसो बलम्
āśīviṣas tigmatejā madvākya-balacoditaḥ | sapta-rātrād itaḥ pāpaṃ paśya me tapaso balam ||
Janamejaya said: “The sharp-radiant venomous serpent, driven onward by the force of my command, will bring the sinner here within seven nights. Behold the power of my austerity.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perceived potency of a ruler’s command (vākya-bala) when backed by ascetic discipline (tapas). Ethically, it also foreshadows the danger of channeling spiritual or royal power into vengeance, raising questions about righteous punishment versus wrath-driven retribution.
Janamejaya declares that a deadly serpent—compelled by his spoken command—will bring the ‘sinner’ to him within seven nights, and he boasts that this outcome will demonstrate the strength of his austerity. The statement intensifies the impending confrontation connected with the snake-related episode in the Adi Parva.