Shloka 25
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
सर्पापसर्प भद्रें ते गच्छ सर्प महाविष । जनमेजयस्य यज्ञान्ते आस्तीकवचनं समर,“महाविषधर सर्प! तुम भाग जाओ! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो! अब तुम जाओ। जनमेजयके यज्ञकी समाप्तिमें आस्तीकको तुमने जो वचन दिया था, उसका स्मरण करो
sarpāpasarpa bhadraṁ te gaccha sarpa mahāviṣa | janamejayasya yajñānte āstīkavacanaṁ smara ||
Āstīka said: “O serpent, withdraw—may good befall you. Go now, O serpent of deadly venom. Remember the promise you gave to Āstīka at the conclusion of King Janamejaya’s sacrifice.”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid justified anger and powerful ritual action, dharma requires restraint and fidelity to one’s pledged word. Āstīka invokes the ethical force of a promise to halt further destruction and to restore balance through compassion and truthfulness.
During Janamejaya’s snake-sacrifice meant to exterminate serpents, Āstīka intervenes and secures a boon that ends the rite. He then addresses the serpent being drawn into the fire, urging it to withdraw and reminding it of the assurance connected with Āstīka’s words at the sacrifice’s conclusion.