Shloka 53
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
महानतिक्रमो होष तक्षकस्य दुरात्मन: । द्विजस्य योडददद् द्रव्यं मा नृपं जीवयेदिति,दुरात्मा तक्षकका यह सबसे बड़ा अपराध है कि उसने ब्राह्मणदेवको इसलिये धन दिया कि वे महाराजको जिला न दें
mahān atikramaḥ eṣa takṣakasya durātmanaḥ | dvijasya yo dadad dravyaṃ mā nṛpaṃ jīvayed iti ||
जनमेजय ने कहा—दुरात्मा तक्षक का यह महान अपराध है कि उसने ब्राह्मणदेव को इस हेतु धन दिया कि वे राजा को जिला न दें।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adharma in two forms: Takṣaka’s malicious intent to secure a king’s death, and the ethical danger of bribery that can make a brāhmaṇa abandon righteous duty. It frames such manipulation of sacred responsibility as a ‘great transgression.’
Janamejaya is reacting to the account of how Takṣaka ensured the king would not be saved: he provided wealth to a brāhmaṇa with the explicit instruction that the king should not be revived, thereby obstructing a potential rescue.