Shloka 4
सर्पसत्रे हुतानां नागानां नामपरिगणनम् | Enumeration of Nāgas Consumed in the Sarpasatra Fire
ततः सर्पा: समापेतु: प्रदीप्ते हव्यवाहने । विचेष्टमाना: कृपणमाह्नयन्त: परस्परम्,तत्पश्चात् सर्पगण तड़फड़ाते और दीनस्वरमें एक-दूसरेको पुकारते हुए प्रज्वलित अग्निमें टपाटप गिरने लगे
tataḥ sarpāḥ samāpetuḥ pradīpte havyavāhane | viceṣṭamānāḥ kṛpaṇam āhnayantaḥ parasparam ||
ثم اندفعت الحيّات مجتمعةً نحو النار المتّقدة. وهي تتلوّى في عجزٍ وتستغيث، كانت تنادي بعضها بعضًا بنداءٍ شجيّ، ثم تهوي واحدةً إثر أخرى في اللهيب الموقد.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical danger of actions propelled by vengeance: even when framed as a ritual, unchecked anger can produce widespread suffering, inviting reflection on restraint (dama) and compassion as safeguards of dharma.
During the snake-sacrifice (sarpa-satra), the nāgas are drawn toward the consecrated fire; they writhe and cry out to one another as they fall into the blazing flames, showing the sacrifice’s escalating and devastating effect.