Shloka 32
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
श्र॒ुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम् | यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान् ब्रह्मज्छुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम् । व्येतु ते सुमहद् ब्रह्मनू कौतूहलमरिन्दम,आस्तीकका यह धर्ममय उपाख्यान पुण्यकी वृद्धि करनेवाला है। काम-क्रोधादि शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले ब्राह्मण! कथाप्रसंगमें डुण्डुभकी बात सुनकर आपने मुझसे जिसके विषयमें पूछा था, वह सब उपाख्यान मैंने कह सुनाया। इसे सुनकर आपके मनका महान् कौतूहल अब निवृत्त हो जाना चाहिये
śrutvā dharmiṣṭham ākhyānam āstīkaṁ puṇyavardhanam | yan māṁ tvaṁ pṛṣṭavān brahman śrutvā ḍuṇḍubhabhāṣitam | vyetu te sumahad brahman nau kautūhalam arindama ||
“Having heard this most righteous account of Āstīka, which increases merit, you asked me about it, O brāhmaṇa, after hearing the words concerning the drum (Ḍuṇḍubha). I have now narrated that whole episode to you. Therefore, O brāhmaṇa—subduer of inner foes—may your great curiosity be satisfied and come to rest.”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic narrative is presented as puṇya-enhancing, and sincere questioning is honored by a complete answer; once truth is heard, restless curiosity should settle into clarity and self-mastery.
The speaker concludes an explanatory digression: after the listener heard a reference to the ‘Ḍuṇḍubha’ matter and asked about it, the speaker says he has narrated the full Āstīka-related episode and expects the listener’s curiosity to be satisfied.