Shloka 30
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
स प्राप्य यज्ञायतनं वरिष्ठ द्विजोत्तम: पुण्यकृतां वरिष्ठ: । तुष्टाव राजानमनन्तकीर्ति- मृत्विक्सदस्यांश्व तथैव चाग्निम्
sa prāpya yajñāyatanaṃ variṣṭha dvijottamaḥ puṇyakṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ | tuṣṭāva rājānam anantakīrtim ṛtviksadasyāṃś ca tathaiva cāgnim ||
Setelah sampai ke kawasan upacara korban yang unggul itu, Āstīka—yang terulung antara Brahmana dan yang terbaik antara para pelaku kebajikan—mula memanjatkan pujian: kepada Raja Janamejaya, sang yajamāna yang termasyhur dengan kemuliaan tanpa akhir; juga kepada para ṛtvik, para anggota majlis yang berilmu, serta Agni, api suci.
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before intervening in a charged situation, one should observe dharmic decorum: honor the sacred setting, the host, the officiants, and the consecrated fire. Respectful speech and proper protocol create moral authority and open the way for counsel that can restrain excess.
Āstīka arrives at Janamejaya’s sacrificial arena (the snake-sacrifice context) and begins by praising the king, the priests, the assembled ritual experts, and Agni. This formal eulogy is his entry into the rite and prepares the ground for his subsequent request/intervention.