Shloka 15
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम् । राजा प्रीतमना: प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम्,आस्तीक शुभ-संस्कारोंसे सम्पन्न और मनीषी विद्वान् थे। अपना कर्तव्य पूर्ण कर लेनेके कारण वे कृतकृत्य एवं प्रसन्न थे। राजा जनमेजयने उन्हें प्रसन्नचित्त होकर घरके लिये विदा दी और कहा--'ब्रह्मन! मेरे भावी अश्वमेध नामक महायज्ञमें आप सदस्य हों और उस समय पुनः पधारनेकी कृपा करें”
Śaunaka uvāca: āstīkaṁ preṣayāmāsa gṛhān eva susaṁskṛtam | rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṁ kṛtakṛtyaṁ manīṣiṇam ||
Śaunaka said: The king, glad at heart, sent Āstīka back to his home—Āstīka being well-trained and refined, a wise man who had fulfilled his purpose. With gratitude and goodwill the king dismissed him with honor, acknowledging that Āstīka had completed his duty and restored moral order by restraining destructive anger and guiding the sacrifice back toward righteousness.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s power must be guided by dharma: when wise counsel restores balance and prevents excess (such as vengeance-driven destruction), the king should respond with gratitude and honor. The verse highlights the ethical ideal of recognizing fulfilled duty (kṛtakṛtya) and valuing refined wisdom (manīṣin).
Śaunaka narrates that the king, pleased with Āstīka’s successful intervention, respectfully dismisses him to return home. Āstīka is described as well-cultured and wise, having completed his intended task—contextually, the turning back of the snake-sacrifice from indiscriminate annihilation.