Shloka 54
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ५५: पाण्डव-कौरववैरस्य संक्षेपवृत्तान्तः
Synopsis of the Pāṇḍava–Kaurava Estrangement
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत आदिपव॑के अन्तर्गत आस्तीकपदवर्में सर्पसत्रमें आस्तीकका आगमनविषयक चौवनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
Iti prakāraṁ Śrīmahābhārate Ādiparvaṇi antar-gate Āstīkaparvaṇi sarpasatre Āstīkasya āgamanaviṣayakaḥ catuḥpañcāśattamo ’dhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ.
Así concluye el capítulo quincuagésimo cuarto de la sección de Āstīka, dentro del Ādi Parva del sagrado Mahābhārata, que describe la llegada de Āstīka al sacrificio de las serpientes (sarpa-satra).
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a cause appears justified (such as avenging harm), dharma requires restraint and compassion; destructive ritual or vengeance must be checked by wise counsel that protects life and restores balance.
This is the chapter-colophon stating that the chapter describing Āstīka’s arrival at the serpent-sacrifice has concluded, setting the stage for his intervention in the ongoing rite.