Shloka 24

Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं लोभयामास काम ब्रूहीति तक्षक: । स एवमुक्तस्तं प्राह काश्यपस्तक्षकं पुन:

Transliteration

tatastaṃ lobhayāmāsa kāma brūhīti takṣakaḥ | sa evamuktastaṃ prāha kāśyapastakṣakaṃ punaḥ |

Translation

その後タクシャカは彼を誘惑し、「言え——何を望むのだ」と言った。そう問われてカーシャパは再びタクシャカに、己は財を求めて赴くのだと明かした。これを聞くとタクシャカは、甘い言葉で大聖者に語りかけ続け、彼の進むべき道を翻させようとした。

Word by Word

• {'tatas': 'then, thereafter', 'tam (taṃ)': 'him', 'lobhayāmāsa': 'tempted, tried to lure (causative of lubh, ‘to desire’)', 'kāma': 'desire

• what you want', 'brūhi': 'tell (imperative of √brū, ‘to speak’)', 'iti': 'thus', 'takṣakaḥ': 'Takṣaka (the serpent-king)', 'saḥ': 'he', 'evam-uktaḥ': 'thus spoken to

• so addressed', 'prāha': 'said (perfect of √ah, ‘to speak’)', 'kāśyapaḥ': 'Kāśyapa (here, the sage who can counteract snake-venom)', 'punaḥ': 'again'}

Speaker

तक्षक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Takṣaka
• Kāśyapa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical danger of being swayed by inducement: persuasive, sweet speech and offers of reward can be used to divert someone from a consequential action. It also suggests that acknowledging one’s motive (such as gain) matters, because it shapes vulnerability to temptation and the moral texture of one’s choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Takṣaka approaches Kāśyapa and tries to bribe or entice him, asking what he desires. Kāśyapa responds, indicating his purpose is connected with obtaining wealth. Takṣaka then continues speaking sweetly, aiming to prevent Kāśyapa from proceeding (in the broader episode, to stop him from counteracting Takṣaka’s intended act).