Shloka 22
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
स सम्भावय नागेन्द्र मयि सर्व महामते । न ते मयि मनो जातु मिथ्या भवितुमहति
sa sambhāvaya nāgendra mayi sarva mahāmate | na te mayi mano jātu mithyā bhavitum arhati ||
ଆସ୍ତୀକ କହିଲେ—ହେ ନାଗେନ୍ଦ୍ର, ହେ ମହାମତେ! ମୋ ଉପରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭରସା ରଖନ୍ତୁ। ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ସମସ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସାଧନ କରିବାର ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ ମୋର ଅଛି; ଆପଣଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ମୋ ପ୍ରତି ଯେ ଆଶା-ଭରସା, ସେ କେବେ ବି ନିର୍ଫଳ ହେବ ନାହିଁ।
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes responsible assurance: one should accept trust only with the intent and capacity to fulfill it, and a protector/intercessor should act so that another’s reliance does not become futile—an ethical stance aligned with dharma (keeping faith, preventing harm).
During the serpent-sacrifice episode, Āstīka addresses the serpent-king, urging him to trust Āstīka’s ability to act effectively. He promises that the serpent-king’s hope in him will not be disappointed, preparing the ground for Āstīka’s intervention to halt the destruction of the nāgas.