Shloka 23
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
स दष्टमात्रो नागेन भस्मी भूतो 5 भवन्नग: । काश्यपश्च ततो राजन्नजीवयत त॑ नगम्
sa daṣṭamātro nāgena bhasmībhūto bhavann agaḥ | kāśyapaś ca tato rājan ajīvayat taṃ nagam ||
Begitu digigit ular, pohon itu pun seketika hangus menjadi abu. Lalu, wahai Raja, Kaśyapa menghidupkan kembali pohon yang sama dengan daya pengetahuan mantranya.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts destructive power (venom) with restorative power (mantra-knowledge), implying an ethical tension: knowledge can be used to harm or to heal, and disciplined sacred learning can counteract even sudden catastrophe.
Takṣaka describes a demonstration: a serpent’s bite instantly burns a tree to ashes, and then the sage Kāśyapa revives the same tree, illustrating both the potency of the nāga’s poison and Kāśyapa’s life-restoring mantra skill.