How to add insert a template to database????

I'm trying to insert a Wordpress Template tag to the wordpress database. I'm trying to add it as a variable. For example:

<?php
$query = <?php the_search_query (); >?;
mysql_query("INSERT INTO downpump__searchterms (term, date) 
VALUES ('$query', NOW())");
?> 

PHP:

But its not getting inserted to the database. Please Help me out!

 

try this :

<?php
$query = the_search_query ();
mysql_query("INSERT INTO downpump__searchterms (term, date)
VALUES ('$query', NOW())");
?>

PHP:

 

This is not working!

 

try this and post here the result :

<?php
$query = the_search_query ();
die($query);
//mysql_query("INSERT INTO downpump__searchterms (term, date)
VALUES ('$query', NOW())");
?>

PHP:

 

Well, that doesn't solve either.. But i found out the trick!