Shloka 1
आस्तीक-वरप्रदानम् (Āstīka’s Boon and the Interruption of the Sarpa-satra)
/ ऑपन-- मा बछ। अि<-छऋाल एकपज्चाशक्तो< ध्याय: जनमेजयके सर्पयज्ञका उपक्रम सौतिरुवाच एवमुक्त्वा ततः श्रीमान् मन्सत्रिभिश्नानुमोदित: । आरुरोह प्रतिज्ञां स सर्पसत्राय पार्थिव:,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--शौनक! श्रीमान् राजा जनमेजयने जब ऐसा कहा, तब उनके मन्त्रियोंने भी उस बातका समर्थन किया। तत्पश्चात् राजा सर्पयज्ञ करनेकी प्रतिज्ञापर आरूढ़ हो गये
Ugraśravā uvāca—Śaunaka! śrīmān rājā Janamejaya evaṃ uktvā tataḥ mantribhiś cānumoditaḥ; tataḥ sa pārthivaḥ sarpasatrāya pratijñām ārurōha.
Ugraśravas said: “O Śaunaka, after King Janamejaya spoke thus, his ministers also approved his resolve. Thereupon the illustrious ruler firmly took up his vow to undertake the serpent-sacrifice.” The passage frames a king’s decision as publicly ratified by counsel, highlighting how a ruler’s intent—especially when driven by anger or retribution—can be strengthened by endorsement and thus set into motion with grave ethical consequences.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s resolve gains force when endorsed by advisers; therefore counsel carries moral weight. The verse implicitly warns that collective approval can propel a potentially harmful vow into action, making responsibility shared rather than purely personal.
Sauti narrates to Śaunaka that King Janamejaya, supported by his ministers, commits himself to performing the sarpa-satra (serpent-sacrifice), setting the stage for the famous episode of the snake-sacrifice.