Shloka 22
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
स सम्भावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्व महामते । न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमहति
sa sambhāvaya nāgendra mayi sarva mahāmate | na te mayi mano jātu mithyā bhavitum arhati ||
आस्तीक ने कहा—हे नागेन्द्र, हे महामते! मुझ पर पूर्ण विश्वास रखिए। मैं सब आवश्यक कार्य करने में समर्थ हूँ; आपके हृदय का मेरे प्रति जो आशा-भरोसा है, वह कभी व्यर्थ नहीं होगा।
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes responsible assurance: one should accept trust only with the intent and capacity to fulfill it, and a protector/intercessor should act so that another’s reliance does not become futile—an ethical stance aligned with dharma (keeping faith, preventing harm).
During the serpent-sacrifice episode, Āstīka addresses the serpent-king, urging him to trust Āstīka’s ability to act effectively. He promises that the serpent-king’s hope in him will not be disappointed, preparing the ground for Āstīka’s intervention to halt the destruction of the nāgas.