Shloka 26
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
सौतिरुवाच ततः स वासुकेरघोरमपनीय मनोज्वरम् । आधाय चात्मनोड्रेषु जगाम त्वरितो भूशम्
Sautir uvāca: tataḥ sa vāsuker aghoram apanīya manojvaram | ādhāya cātmano 'dveṣu jagāma tvarito bhūśam ||
Sauti berkata: Lalu dia menyingkirkan demam kegelisahan yang mengerikan daripada Vāsuki, memikul beban itu ke atas dirinya sendiri, dan dengan tergesa-gesa pergi menghadap raja—berniat menyelamatkan Vāsuki serta para ular daripada bahaya maut dalam korban ular Janamejaya.
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is not mere ritual performance but the protection of living beings; Āstīka embodies compassion by taking on another’s distress and acting swiftly to prevent unjust destruction.
Āstīka dispels Vāsuki’s intense anxiety, assumes the burden himself, and rushes to King Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice to save Vāsuki and the Nāgas from imminent death.