Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain
सर्प उवाच अहं विद्याधर: कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुत: । श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरन् दिश: ॥ १२ ॥ ऋषीन् विरूपाङ्गिरस: प्राहसं रूपदर्पित: । तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धै: स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ १३ ॥
sarpa uvāca ahaṁ vidyādharaḥ kaścit sudarśana iti śrutaḥ śriyā svarūpa-sampattyā vimānenācaran diśaḥ
Die Schlange erwiderte: Ich bin ein Vidyādhara namens Sudarśana, weithin bekannt. Reich an Glück und Schönheit durchstreifte ich in meinem Himmelsfahrzeug alle Richtungen. Einst sah ich einige unscheinbare Weisen aus der Linie des Aṅgirā; vom Stolz auf meine Gestalt geblendet verspottete ich sie, und wegen dieser Sünde ließen sie mich in diese niedrige Daseinsform fallen.
This verse shows that pride in one’s form and opulence can lead to offending saints, and such aparādha brings severe karmic reactions—here, a fall into a lower birth as a serpent.
To confess the cause of his condition: he was cursed due to mocking the sages Virūpa and Aṅgirā, illustrating how offenses to ṛṣis can transform one’s destiny.
Cultivate humility, avoid ridiculing saintly or sincere spiritual people, and treat spiritual authority with respect—because arrogance and contempt create long-lasting consequences.