Shloka 35
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
चिन्तयामास पापात्मा मनसा पन्नगाधम: । दष्टं यदि मया विप्र: पार्थिवं जीवयिष्यति
cintayāmāsa pāpātmā manasā pannagādhamaḥ | daṣṭaṃ yadi mayā vipraḥ pārthivaṃ jīvayiṣyati ||
Janamejaya berkata: Sang pendosa, ular yang paling hina itu merenung dalam hati: “Jika brahmana ini menghidupkan kembali raja yang telah kugigit, orang akan berkata bahwa racun Takṣaka pun telah dinetralisir; maka Takṣaka akan menjadi bahan olok-olok di dunia.” Maka, demi gengsi dan nama baik yang ia dahulukan daripada dharma, ia menenangkan sang brahmana dengan harta.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ego and fear of public ridicule can drive unethical choices: the serpent values reputation over dharma and attempts to obstruct a life-saving act through wealth, illustrating the moral danger of pride and bribery.
Janamejaya narrates that the serpent (identified in the prose context as Takṣaka) worries that if a brahmin revives the bitten king, his poison’s fame will be diminished; therefore he decides to influence the brahmin with money to prevent the king’s restoration.