Shloka 15
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
तक्षकस्त्वां महाराज तेजसासौ दहिष्यति । श्रुत्वा च तद् वचो घोरं पिता ते जनमेजय,“महाराज! (सात दिनके बाद) तक्षक नाग तुम्हें अपने तेजसे जला देगा।” जनमेजय! यह भयंकर बात सुनकर तुम्हारे पिता नागश्रेष्ठ तक्षकसे अत्यन्त भयभीत हो सतत सावधान रहने लगे। तदनन्तर जब सातवाँ दिन उपस्थित हुआ, तब उस दिन ब्रह्मर्षि काश्यपने राजाके समीप जानेका विचार किया। मार्गमें नागराज तक्षकने उस समय काश्यपको देखा
takṣakas tvāṃ mahārāja tejasāsau dahiṣyati | śrutvā ca tad vaco ghoraṃ pitā te janamejaya |
“Ó grande rei, Takṣaka te queimará com o seu poder ardente.” Ao ouvir essas palavras terríveis, teu pai—ó Janamejaya—ficou tomado de intenso temor diante de Takṣaka, o mais eminente entre as serpentes, e permaneceu em constante vigilância. Quando chegou o sétimo dia, o brahmarṣi Kāśyapa decidiu ir à presença do rei; no caminho, o rei das serpentes, Takṣaka, avistou Kāśyapa naquele momento.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how foreknowledge of danger produces fear and constant vigilance, yet also shows the tension between destiny (a foretold death by Takṣaka) and human effort (attempts to guard, and Kāśyapa’s intention to intervene). Ethically, it frames the consequences of prior actions and words (curses/prophecies) as forces that shape royal conduct and future events.
A dire prediction is stated: Takṣaka will burn the king with his fiery power. The king (Janamejaya’s father) becomes deeply afraid and stays on alert. When the seventh day arrives, the sage Kāśyapa decides to go to the king, but on the way Takṣaka notices Kāśyapa—setting up a confrontation that will affect whether the king can be saved.