Shloka 4
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
शौनक उवाच कि सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम् | न प्रत्यभात् तदाग्नौ यत् स पपात न तक्षक:,शौनकजीने पूछा--सूत! उस यज्ञमें बड़े-बड़े मनीषी ब्राह्मण उपस्थित थे। क्या उन्हें ऐसे मन्त्र नहीं सूझे, जिनसे तक्षक शीघ्र अग्निमें आ गिरे? क्या कारण था जो तक्षक अग्निकुण्डमें न गिरा?
Śaunaka uvāca: kiṃ sūta teṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām | na pratyabhāt tadāgnau yat sa papāta na takṣakaḥ ||
Śaunaka dijo: «Oh Sūta, en aquel sacrificio estaban presentes muchos brāhmaṇas grandes y perspicaces. ¿Por qué su conjunto de mantras no surtió efecto de inmediato para que Takṣaka cayera en ese fuego? ¿Por qué razón Takṣaka no descendió a la llama sacrificial?»
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension central to the epic: even when learned priests possess powerful mantras, outcomes may be checked by counter-forces—protective rites, opposing mantras, or the workings of destiny and prior karma. It invites reflection on the limits of ritual power when confronted by equally potent protection or cosmic order.
Śaunaka questions the narrator about the snake-sacrifice context: despite the presence of many wise brāhmaṇas and their mantras intended to draw serpents into the fire, Takṣaka did not fall into the sacrificial flames. Śaunaka asks what prevented the mantras from immediately bringing Takṣaka into the fire.