Shloka 9
Āstīka Stops the Sarpa-satra; Royal Closure and Protective Phalaśruti (आस्तीकः सर्पसत्रनिवर्तनम्)
वात्स्य: श्रुतश्रवा वृद्धो जपस्वाध्यायशीलवान् । कोहलो देवशर्मा च मौद्गल्य: समसौरभ:,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 |
vātsyaḥ śrutaśravā vṛddho japa-svādhyāya-śīlavān |
kohalo devaśarmā ca maudgalyaḥ samasaurabhaḥ ||
Śaunaka said: “Vātsya; the aged Śrutaśravā, devoted to japa and self-study; and also Kohala, Devaśarmā, Maudgalya, and Samasaurabha.” By naming these learned Brahmins, the narrative underscores that Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice was attended by disciplined Vedic experts whose austerity and study lend ritual and moral legitimacy to the assembly.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true ritual and counsel rest on disciplined learning and conduct—japa (inner devotion) and svādhyāya (Vedic study) are presented as marks of authoritative, dharmic participation in public rites.
Śaunaka continues listing eminent Brahmin sages who were present as members/participants in the broader sacrificial assembly (contextually, Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice), emphasizing the learned composition of the gathering.