Shloka 26
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
यावद्धनं प्रार्थयसे राज्ञस्तस्मात् ततो5धिकम् । गृहाण मत्त एव त्वं संनिवर्तस्व चानघ,“अनघ! तुम राजासे जितना धन पाना चाहते हो, उससे भी अधिक मुझसे ही ले लो और लौट जाओ'
yāvad dhanaṁ prārthayase rājñas tasmāt tato 'dhikam | gṛhāṇa matta eva tvaṁ saṁnivartasva cānagha ||
Takṣaka berkata: “Sebanyak mana pun harta yang engkau pinta daripada raja—ambillah daripada aku lebih daripada itu. Terimalah daripada aku sahaja, wahai yang tidak bercela, dan berpalinglah pulang.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a classic ethical pressure-point: wealth is offered as an inducement to abandon one’s intended course. It frames the moral test of whether a person can resist material temptation when it is presented as an easy alternative.
Takṣaka addresses someone who intends to obtain wealth from the king, offering to pay even more himself and urging the person to turn back—an attempt to redirect actions through a tempting counter-offer.