Shloka 22
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
स सम्भावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्व महामते । न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमहति
sa sambhāvaya nāgendra mayi sarva mahāmate | na te mayi mano jātu mithyā bhavitum arhati ||
アースティーカは言った。「蛇族の主よ、偉大なる思慮の持ち主よ、どうか私に全幅の信を置いてください。必要なことはすべて成し遂げる力が私にはあります。あなたの心が私に託した希望と信頼が、むなしく終わることは決してありません。」
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes responsible assurance: one should accept trust only with the intent and capacity to fulfill it, and a protector/intercessor should act so that another’s reliance does not become futile—an ethical stance aligned with dharma (keeping faith, preventing harm).
During the serpent-sacrifice episode, Āstīka addresses the serpent-king, urging him to trust Āstīka’s ability to act effectively. He promises that the serpent-king’s hope in him will not be disappointed, preparing the ground for Āstīka’s intervention to halt the destruction of the nāgas.