Shloka 20
न मे वागनृतं प्राह स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोडन्यथा । त॑ वै नृपवरं गत्वा दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्
na me vāg anṛtaṃ prāha svair eṣv api kuto 'nyathā | taṃ vai nṛpavaraṃ gatvā dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam ||
“Ucapanku tidak pernah berdusta, bahkan ketika bergurau; apatah lagi pada saat bahaya ini, bagaimana mungkin aku berkata selain benar? Maka aku akan pergi kepada raja terbaik, Janamejaya, yang telah ditahbiskan untuk upacara korban ular; dan dengan kata-kata yang membawa berkat, aku akan memuaskannya sehingga korban itu dihentikan.”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) as a non-negotiable ethical discipline: one who has trained speech to avoid falsehood even in jest is fit to use words as a dharmic instrument—here, to avert harm and restrain a destructive ritual.
Āstīka resolves to approach King Janamejaya, who is formally consecrated for the serpent-sacrifice, and to speak in an auspicious, persuasive manner so that the king becomes satisfied and the ongoing rite—threatening the serpents—comes to an end.