Astika was born to the Rishi Jaratkaru and his wife, also named Jaratkaru, who was the sister of Vasuki, the king of serpents. This dual connection to both the sage lineage of his father and the serpent race through his mother gave Astika a unique standing, bridging the worlds of humans and Nagas (serpents). His birth was a direct result of Vasuki’s desire to protect the serpent race, as a prophecy had foretold that a sage’s son born from his sister would one day save the Nagas from a catastrophic event.
This prophecy began to unfold with the tragic death of King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. Parikshit had been cursed to die by snakebite after unknowingly insulting a meditating sage, resulting in the serpent Takshaka fulfilling the curse by biting and killing the king. Grieving for his father and consumed with rage, Parikshit’s son, King Janamejaya, vowed revenge. To this end, he initiated a powerful and massive snake sacrifice, or Sarpa Satra, designed to bring about the annihilation of every serpent in the world. One by one, countless serpents were drawn to the sacrificial fire, pulled in by the power of the priestly incantations, where they met their end in the flames.
When Vasuki, the serpent king and Astika’s maternal uncle, saw his kin being consumed, he grew desperate. Fearing the extinction of his race, he sought a way to save Takshaka, who had been a target of Janamejaya’s fury as the snake responsible for Parikshit’s death. Knowing the prophecy surrounding Astika, Vasuki turned to his nephew for help. Astika’s mother, too, sent him forth to fulfill the destiny for which he was born—to save the serpent race from complete destruction.
Astika approached King Janamejaya’s court as the sacrificial rites were underway. The young sage’s demeanor and eloquent words quickly won the favor of Janamejaya, who was moved by Astika’s wisdom and calm presence. Impressed by the boy’s poise, Janamejaya offered him a boon. Without hesitation, Astika asked for the cessation of the snake sacrifice. Although initially reluctant, Janamejaya was honor-bound to keep his word. He granted Astika’s request, halting the sacrifice and sparing Takshaka along with the remaining serpents.
Through Astika’s intervention, the prophecy of the sages was fulfilled, and he became celebrated as the savior of the serpent race. His story, preserved in the Mahabharata, serves as a testament to his wisdom and compassion, highlighting themes of forgiveness, the sanctity of life, and the complex intertwining of human and divine destinies in Hindu mythology.