Shloka 25
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
ब्रह्मदण्डं महाघोरं कालाग्निसमतेजसम् । नाशयिष्यामि मात्र त्वं भयं कार्षी: कथंचन,कालाग्निके समान दाहक और अत्यन्त भयंकर शापका यहाँ मैं अवश्य नाश कर डालूँगा। अत: आप उससे किसी तरह भय न करें
brāhmadaṇḍaṃ mahāghoraṃ kālāgnisamatejasam | nāśayiṣyāmi mātra tvaṃ bhayaṃ kārṣīḥ kathaṃcana ||
Āstīka berkata: “Sumpahan hukuman Brahmana itu—amat dahsyat, menyala dengan tenaga seperti api Waktu sendiri—pasti akan aku lenyapkan. Maka janganlah engkau takut kepadanya walau sedikit pun.”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual authority and righteous resolve can counter even terrifying destructive forces; the verse emphasizes reassurance, protection, and the ethical duty to remove fear when one has the capacity to avert harm.
Āstīka promises to nullify a dreadful Brahminical curse—described as blazing like the fire of Time—and consoles the addressed ‘mother’ figure, urging her not to fear.