Shloka 22
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्ट॑ त॑ं संजीवयितुं नृपम् । इत्युक्त्वा तक्षकस्तत्र सोडदशद् वै वनस्पतिम्,तक्षकने कहा--ब्रह्मन! मेरे डँसे हुए मनुष्यको जिलानेकी इच्छा आप कैसे रखते हैं। मैं ही वह तक्षक हूँ। मेरी अद्भुत शक्ति देखिये। मेरे डँस लेनेपर उस राजाको आप जीवित नहीं कर सकते। ऐसा कहकर तक्षकने एक वृक्षको डँस लिया
na śaktas tvaṃ mayā daṣṭaṃ taṃ saṃjīvayituṃ nṛpam | ity uktvā takṣakas tatra so 'daśad vai vanaspatim ||
Takṣaka dijo: «No eres capaz de devolver a la vida a ese rey a quien he mordido». Dicho esto, Takṣaka mordió allí mismo un árbol.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between intention/knowledge and the limits imposed by an already-accomplished act: once a powerful cause has taken effect, even a would-be rescuer may be unable to reverse it. It also warns against pride in power, as Takṣaka asserts dominance through a demonstration.
Takṣaka declares that the king he has bitten cannot be brought back to life by the addressed Brahmin, and then bites a tree on the spot to demonstrate his potency and to underscore the inevitability of the king’s impending death.