Shloka 23
Vyāsa’s Arrival at Janamejaya’s Sarpasatra; Commissioning of Vaiśaṃpāyana’s Recital (व्यासागमनम्)
वायुकिरुवाच आस्तीक परिधघूर्णामि हृदयं मे विदीर्यते । दिशो न प्रतिजानामि ब्रह्म॒ृदण्डनिपीडित:,वासुकि बोले--आस्तीक! माताके शापरूप ब्रह्मदण्डसे पीड़ित होनेके कारण मुझे चक्कर आ रहा है, मेरा हृदय विदीर्ण होने लगा है और मुझे दिशाओंका ज्ञान नहीं हो रहा है
Vāsukir uvāca: Āstīka, paridhaghoṇṇāmi; hṛdayaṃ me vidīryate | diśo na pratijānāmi brahmadaṇḍanipīḍitaḥ ||
วาสุกิกล่าวว่า “อาสตีกะ เรากำลังโคลงเคลงวนเวียน หัวใจราวกับถูกฉีกออกเป็นเสี่ยง ๆ ถูกกดทับด้วย ‘คทาแห่งพราหมณ์’ คือแรงแห่งคำสาปของมารดา จนแม้แต่ทิศทางก็ไม่อาจจำแนกได้”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight attributed to a curse and the idea that suffering driven by past causes can become overwhelming—yet it also sets the stage for compassionate intervention. It points to dharma as protection of life and relief of the afflicted, even amid powerful ritual forces.
During the crisis of the snake-sacrifice (sarpa-satra), Vāsuki turns to the sage Āstīka in desperation. He describes physical and mental disorientation—dizziness, a heart-rending fear—caused by the crushing force of the curse (spoken of as ‘brahmadaṇḍa’), foreshadowing Āstīka’s role in saving the Nāgas.