Astika

One-line: young sage who stops Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice before Takshaka is burned.

First appears: Book 2, in Book 2 retelling.

Who they are: Astika is the person who interrupts revenge. Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice is pulling every serpent toward the fire, including Takshaka, when Astika arrives and asks the king to stop. His timing saves the snake race and exposes the limits of Janamejaya’s rage.

What they do that matters:

• Is born to save the snakes from the sacrifice.
• Wins a boon from Janamejaya.
• Uses the boon to stop the Sarpa Yajna.

Other names: None in this storybook layer.

Family / lineage (when relevant): Son of Jaratkaru and the Naga princess Jaratkaru.