Shloka 16
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
भ्रातरं चापि मे तस्मात् त्रातुमहसि पावकात् । न मोघं तु कृतं तत् स्यथाद् यदहं तव धीमते । पित्रे दत्ता विमोक्षार्थ कथं वा पुत्र मन््यसे
bhrātaraṃ cāpi me tasmāt trātum arhasi pāvakāt | na moghaṃ tu kṛtaṃ tat syāt yathāhaṃ tava dhīmate | pitre dattā vimokṣārthaṃ kathaṃ vā putra manyase ||
“Karena itu engkau pun harus menyelamatkan saudaraku dari api. Jangan sampai tujuan aku diserahkan kepada ayahmu yang bijaksana—demi memperoleh pembebasan—menjadi sia-sia. Katakan, anakku: jalan apakah yang kau nilai benar?”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses purposeful action aligned with dharma: one should not let a divinely or ethically intended mission become futile, and one must act to protect others—especially kin and the vulnerable—from imminent harm.
Āstīka urges her son to intervene in the serpent-sacrifice where snakes are being burned, asking him to save the serpents and specifically her brother from the fire, and to fulfill the very purpose for which she was given in marriage—to secure deliverance.