Shloka 34
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
यद् वृक्षं जीवयामास काश्यपस्तक्षकेण वै | नूनं मन्त्रहतविषो न प्रणश्येत काश्यपात्
yad vṛkṣaṁ jīvayāmāsa kāśyapas takṣakeṇa vai | nūnaṁ mantrahataviṣo na praṇaśyet kāśyapāt ||
ଜନମେଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତକ୍ଷକର ଦଂଶରେ ଭସ୍ମ ହୋଇଥିବା ଗଛଟିକୁ କାଶ୍ୟପ ଜୀବନ୍ତ କରିଥିଲେ; ତେଣୁ କାଶ୍ୟପଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତ୍ରବଳରେ ତକ୍ଷକର ବିଷ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ନଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇପାରିଥାନ୍ତା। ସେ ସମୟରେ ଆସିଥାନ୍ତେ, ମୋ ପିତା ନଷ୍ଟ ହେବେ ନଥାନ୍ତେ।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between destiny and timely right action: extraordinary knowledge and power (mantra, healing) matter only when applied at the right moment. It also shows how grief can turn into a moral justification for vengeance, setting the stage for Janamejaya’s later actions.
Janamejaya questions the report that the sage Kāśyapa revived a tree burned to ashes by Takṣaka’s bite. He reasons that if Kāśyapa could neutralize the serpent’s poison, then—had he arrived in time—Janamejaya’s father (King Parīkṣit) would have been saved.