Shloka 8
आस्तीक-वरप्रदानम् (Āstīka’s Boon and the Interruption of the Sarpa-satra)
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिमिने दग्धं॑ हि तक्षकम् | हुताशनमुखे दीप्ते प्रविष्टमिति सत्तम,साधुशिरोमणे! ऋत्विजोंके ऐसा कहनेपर राजर्षि जनमेजयको विश्वास हो गया कि अब तक्षक निश्चय ही प्रज्वलित अग्निके मुखमें समाकर भस्म हो जायगा
evam uktaḥ sa rājarṣir mene dagdhaṃ hi takṣakam | hutāśana-mukhe dīpte praviṣṭam iti sattama sādhū-śiromaṇe |
When the priests spoke thus, King Janamejaya became convinced that Takṣaka had indeed been burned—having entered the blazing mouth of the sacrificial fire and been reduced to ash.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions how ritual power and authoritative speech can intensify certainty and vengeance. It implicitly raises a dharmic question: even if an act is ritually effective, does it become ethically right when driven by anger and collective harm?
After the priest’s declaration, Janamejaya believes that Takṣaka has entered the blazing sacrificial fire and has been burned. This marks a moment of apparent success in the serpent-sacrifice, strengthening the king’s resolve and sense of vindication.