Shloka 8
Āstīka Stops the Sarpa-satra; Royal Closure and Protective Phalaśruti (आस्तीकः सर्पसत्रनिवर्तनम्)
असितो देवलश्लैव नारद: पर्वतस्तथा । आत्रेय: कुण्डजठरीौ द्विज: कालघटस्तथा,इसी प्रकार पुत्र और शिष्योंसहित भगवान् वेदव्यास, उददालक, प्रमतक, श्वैतकेतु, पिंगल, असित, देवल, नारद, पर्वत, आत्रेय, कुण्ड, जठर, द्विजश्रेष्ठ कालघट, वात्स्य, जप और स्वाध्यायमें लगे रहनेवाले बूढ़े श्रुतश्रवा, कोहल, देवशर्मा, मौद्गल्य तथा समसौरभ-- ये और अन्य बहुत-से वेदविद्याके पारंगत ब्राह्मण जनमेजयके उस सर्पयज्ञमें सदस्य बने थे
śaunaka uvāca: asito devalaś caiva nāradaḥ parvatas tathā | ātreyaḥ kuṇḍa-jaṭharau dvijaḥ kāla-ghaṭas tathā ||
Śaunaka said: “Asita and Devala, and also Nārada and Parvata; Ātreya; Kuṇḍa and Jaṭhara; the eminent Brāhmaṇa Dvija; and Kāla-ghaṭa as well.” In context, this verse continues the catalogue of revered Vedic sages who became members of King Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice, underscoring that the rite was conducted under the oversight of learned, disciplined authorities rather than mere royal impulse.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that major rites and consequential actions should be guided by learned, self-disciplined authorities (ṛṣis). Ethical weight in ritual and governance is reinforced by the presence of recognized Vedic sages.
Śaunaka continues enumerating the eminent sages who attended and served as members of King Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice assembly, situating the event within a broad, authoritative Vedic milieu.