Shloka 20
Janamejaya’s Request for Expansion; Vaiśampāyana’s Authorization and Phalāśruti of the Mahābhārata
Jaya
सौतिर्वाच पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि । इदमन्तरमित्येव तदा55स्तीको5 भ्यचोदयत्,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--शौनक! नागराज तक्षक अब कुछ ही क्षणोंमें आगकी ज्वालामें गिरनेवाला था। उस समय आस्तीकने यह सोचकर कि “यही वर माँगनेका अच्छा अवसर है' राजाको वर देनेके लिये प्रेरित किया
Sautir uvāca—patiṣyamāṇe nāgendre takṣake jātavedasi | idam antaram ity eva tadā āstīko 'bhyacodayat ||
Саути сказал: Когда Такшака, владыка змей, уже готов был пасть в жертвенный огонь, Астика, подумав: «Вот он, промежуток — самый верный миг», тогда побудил царя даровать дар.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment and timely action: when harm is imminent, a wise person uses the right moment and the power of speech to redirect authority toward a life-preserving outcome.
During Janamejaya’s snake-sacrifice, Takṣaka is on the verge of being drawn into the sacrificial fire. Āstīka recognizes this critical instant as the best time to request a boon and prompts the king to grant it—setting up the intervention that will halt the rite.