Shloka 24
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
आस्तीक उवाच न संतापस्त्वया कार्य: कथंचित् पन्नगोत्तम | प्रदीप्ताग्ने: समुत्पन्नं नाशयिष्यामि ते भयम्
Āstīka uvāca—na santāpas tvayā kāryaḥ kathaṃcit pannagottama | pradīptāgneḥ samutpannaṃ nāśayiṣyāmi te bhayam ||
आस्तीक म्हणाला—हे पन्नगोत्तम! कोणत्याही प्रकारे तू संताप करू नकोस. या सर्पयज्ञाच्या प्रज्वलित अग्नीतून तुला जो भय उत्पन्न झाला आहे, तो मी नष्ट करीन.
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not surrender to panic when danger arises; righteous, timely intervention grounded in compassion can avert even seemingly inevitable harm. Āstīka models dharmic courage—calming the threatened and taking responsibility to remove fear.
During Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice, serpents are being drawn toward the blazing sacrificial fire. Āstīka addresses a foremost serpent, reassuring him not to grieve and promising to neutralize the fear caused by the fire—foreshadowing Āstīka’s role in stopping the sacrifice.