Shloka 25

Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मदण्डं महाघोरं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्‌ । नाशयिष्यामि मात्र त्वं भयं कार्षी: कथंचन,कालाग्निके समान दाहक और अत्यन्त भयंकर शापका यहाँ मैं अवश्य नाश कर डालूँगा। अत: आप उससे किसी तरह भय न करें

Transliteration

brāhmadaṇḍaṃ mahāghoraṃ kālāgnisamatejasam | nāśayiṣyāmi mātra tvaṃ bhayaṃ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana ||

Translation

Āstīka said: “That Brahmin’s punitive curse—most dreadful, blazing with the fire-like power of Time itself—I shall surely neutralize. Therefore, do not be afraid of it in any way.”

Word by Word

ब्रह्मदण्डम्the Brahma-rod (i.e., Brahma’s curse/punitive power)

महाघोरम्very terrible

कालाग्नि-सम-तेजसम्having brilliance equal to the fire of Time (cosmic fire)

नाशयिष्यामिI will destroy

माdo not

अत्रhere

त्वम्you

भयम्fear

कार्षीःyou should do/make (i.e., entertain)

कथंचनin any way; at all

Speaker

आस्तीक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Āstīka

brāhmadaṇḍa (Brahminical curse/punitive power)

kālāgni (the fire of Time)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Spiritual authority and righteous resolve can counter even terrifying destructive forces; the verse emphasizes reassurance, protection, and the ethical duty to remove fear when one has the capacity to avert harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Āstīka promises to nullify a dreadful Brahminical curse—described as blazing like the fire of Time—and consoles the addressed ‘mother’ figure, urging her not to fear.