Shloka 21
Janamejaya’s Request for Expansion; Vaiśampāyana’s Authorization and Phalāśruti of the Mahābhārata
Jaya
आस्तीक उवाच वरं ददासि चेन्महां वृूणोमि जनमेजय । सत्र ते विर्मत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगा:,आस्तीकने कहा--राजा जनमेजय! यदि तुम मुझे वर देना चाहते हो तो सुनो, मैं माँगता हूँ कि तुम्हारा यह यज्ञ बंद हो जाय और अब इसमें सर्प न गिरने पावें
Āstīka uvāca: varaṁ dadāsi cen mahāṁ vṛṇomi Janamejaya | satraṁ te viramyatv etan na pateyur ihoragāḥ ||
ଆସ୍ତୀକ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଜନମେଜୟ! ଯଦି ତୁମେ ସତ୍ୟସତ୍ୟ ମୋତେ ବର ଦେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛ, ତେବେ ମୁଁ ଏହି ମହାବର ମାଗୁଛି: ତୁମର ଏହି ସତ୍ରଯଜ୍ଞ ଏଠିଏ ଥମ୍ବିଯାଉ; ଏଠାରେ ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ଆଉ କୌଣସି ସର୍ପ ନ ପଡ଼ୁ।
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s power must be governed by dharma: even when vengeance feels justified, one should stop mass harm. Āstīka models compassionate intervention by using a lawful promise (the boon) to end violence and restore moral balance.
During Janamejaya’s snake-sacrifice meant to destroy serpents, Āstīka is offered a boon. He asks for the sacrifice to be halted so that no more snakes are drawn into the fire, thereby saving the serpents and ending the king’s retaliatory rite.