Shloka 11
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
एके तत्राब्रुवन् नागा वयं भूत्वा द्विजर्षभा: । जनमेजयं तु भिक्षामो यज्ञस्ते न भवेदिति,उस समय वहाँ कुछ नागोंने कहा--“हमलोग श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण बनकर जनमेजयसे यह भिक्षा माँगें कि तुम्हारा यज्ञ न हो '
eke tatrābruvan nāgā vayaṁ bhūtvā dvijarṣabhāḥ | janamejayaṁ tu bhikṣāmo yajñas te na bhaved iti ||
Da sagten dort einige Nāgas: „Lasst uns die Gestalt erhabener Brahmanen annehmen und König Janamejaya anflehen: ‚Möge dein Opfer nicht stattfinden.‘“
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical conflict: fear and self-interest can drive beings to adopt deceptive means (disguise as Brahmins) to obstruct a harmful action. It invites reflection on whether ends (survival, preventing destruction) justify means that compromise truthfulness and social-religious integrity.
Some Nāgas, facing the threat of Janamejaya’s impending sacrifice, propose a plan: to take on the appearance of eminent Brahmins and approach the king as supplicants, requesting that his yajña not be performed.