Shloka 24
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
आस्तीक उवाच न संतापस्त्वया कार्य: कथंचित् पन्नगोत्तम | प्रदीप्ताग्ने: समुत्पन्नं नाशयिष्यामि ते भयम्
Āstīka uvāca—na santāpas tvayā kāryaḥ kathaṃcit pannagottama | pradīptāgneḥ samutpannaṃ nāśayiṣyāmi te bhayam ||
Dijo Āstīka: «Oh el mejor de los ofidios, no debes ceder al desconsuelo de ninguna manera. El temor que ha surgido en ti por el fuego abrasador de este sacrificio de serpientes—yo lo haré cesar.»
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not surrender to panic when danger arises; righteous, timely intervention grounded in compassion can avert even seemingly inevitable harm. Āstīka models dharmic courage—calming the threatened and taking responsibility to remove fear.
During Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice, serpents are being drawn toward the blazing sacrificial fire. Āstīka addresses a foremost serpent, reassuring him not to grieve and promising to neutralize the fear caused by the fire—foreshadowing Āstīka’s role in stopping the sacrifice.