Shloka 2
Āstīka-śravaṇa-prastāvaḥ
Prelude to the Account of Āstīka) | Chapter 12 (Ādi Parva
किमर्थ मोक्षिताश्वैव पन्नगास्तेन धीमता । आस्तीकेन द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषत:,विप्रवर! परम बुद्धिमान् महात्मा आस्तीकने किसलिये सर्पोंको उस यज्ञसे बचाया था? यह सब मैं पूर्णरूपसे सुनना चाहता हूँ
kimartha mokṣitāś caiva pannagās tena dhīmatā | āstīkena dvijaśreṣṭha śrotum icchāmy aśeṣataḥ ||
«¿Por qué razón fueron liberadas las serpientes por el sabio Āstīka, oh mejor de los dos veces nacidos? Deseo oír todo el asunto por completo.»
डुण्ड्रुभ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: even when a powerful ritual is underway, a wise and righteous person may intervene to prevent excessive harm. It highlights compassion and discernment (buddhi) as guiding principles in applying dharma.
Dundubhi asks a Brahmin sage to explain, in full, why Āstīka caused the serpents to be released—referring to the episode where Āstīka intervenes to stop the destruction of snakes connected with the great snake-sacrifice narrative.