Shloka 1
आस्तीक-उपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः | Introduction to the Āstīka Narrative
ऑपनआक्रात बछ। अ--क्ाज (आस्तीकपर्व) त्रयोदशो 5 ध्याय: जरत्कारुका अपने पितरोंके अनुरोधसे विवाहके लिये उद्यत होना शौनक उवाच किमर्थ राजशार्दूल: स राजा जनमेजय: । सर्पसत्रेण सर्पाणां गतो<न्तं तद् वदस्व मे
Śaunaka uvāca: kimarthaṁ rājarṣabhaḥ sa rājā Janamejayaḥ | sarpasatreṇa sarpāṇāṁ gato 'ntaṁ tad vadasva me ||
Dijo Śaunaka: «¿Por qué razón el rey Janamejaya—el más eminente entre los reyes—llevó el sacrificio de las serpientes (sarpasatra) hasta el extremo de destruir a las serpientes? Dímelo.»
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into motive and consequence: a ruler’s actions—especially violent or destructive acts performed under the cover of ritual—must be examined for their underlying cause (often anger or vengeance) and their dharmic legitimacy.
At the start of the Āstīka-parvan section, Śaunaka asks why King Janamejaya pursued the serpent-sacrifice to the point of annihilating the serpents, prompting the narrator to explain the background that led to the sarpasatra.