Shloka 19
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
काश्यप उवाच यत्र राजा कुरुश्रेष्ठ: परिक्षिन्नाम वै द्विज । तक्षकेण भुजड़्ेन धक्ष्यते किल सोउद्य वै
kāśyapa uvāca | yatra rājā kuruśreṣṭhaḥ parikṣin nāma vai dvija | takṣakeṇa bhujaṅgena dhakṣyate kila so 'dya vai ||
Kāśyapa berkata: “Wahai brāhmaṇa, aku pergi ke tempat Raja Parīkṣit, yang utama di antara kaum Kuru, bersemayam. Dikatakan bahwa hari ini juga ia akan diserang oleh ular Takṣaka. Karena itu aku bergegas ke sana untuk memulihkannya; bila sang raja berada dalam lindunganku, ular itu takkan mampu membinasakannya.”
काश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between impending fate (a foretold death by Takṣaka) and human agency grounded in dharma—Kāśyapa’s resolve to protect and heal the king. It frames protection of a righteous ruler as a moral duty, while also foreshadowing that even strong remedies may be challenged by destiny and prior causes.
Sage Kāśyapa tells a brāhmaṇa that he is rushing to King Parīkṣit because Takṣaka is said to kill him that very day. Kāśyapa intends to neutralize the poison and keep the king alive, asserting that under his protection the serpent will not succeed.