Shloka 27
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
सौतिरुवाच स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा द्विजेन्द्र: समागतैस्तैर्भुजगेन्द्रमुख्यै: । सम्प्राप्य प्रीतिं विपुलां महात्मा ततो मनो गमनायाथ दश्ने,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--विप्रवर शौनक! उस समय वहाँ आये हुए प्रधान-प्रधान नागराजोंके इस प्रकार कहनेपर महात्मा आस्तीकको बड़ी प्रसन्नता प्राप्त हुई। तदनन्तर उन्होंने वहाँसे चले जानेका विचार किया। इस प्रकार सर्पसत्रसे नागोंका उद्धार करके द्विजश्रेष्ठ धर्मात्मा आस्तीकने विवाह करके पुत्र-पौत्रादि उत्पन्न किये और समय आनेपर (प्रारब्ध शेष होनेसे) मोक्ष प्राप्त कर लिया
sautir uvāca—sa evam uktas tu tadā dvijendraḥ samāgataiḥ tair bhujagendramukhyaiḥ | samprāpya prītiṁ vipulāṁ mahātmā tato mano gamanāyātha dadhne ||
Sauti said: When the foremost of brahmins (Āstīka) was thus addressed by the chief serpent-kings who had assembled there, that great-souled one attained profound satisfaction. Thereafter he set his mind on departing—having accomplished the rescue of the Nāgas from the serpent-sacrifice, and later, living a righteous life, he entered the final release in due course.
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual power is not absolute; dharma includes compassion and protection of the innocent. Āstīka’s satisfaction and readiness to depart highlight a life oriented to righteous action without attachment, culminating (as the surrounding narrative states) in eventual liberation.
The assembled serpent-kings address Āstīka with gratitude after he has secured their safety from the serpent-sacrifice. Pleased, Āstīka resolves to leave; the broader passage (as preserved in the Gītā Press context) summarizes his later life—marriage, descendants, and eventual mokṣa.