Shloka 18
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
ये चान्ये सर्पसत्रज्ञा भविष्यन्त्यस्य चर्त्विज: । तांश्व सर्वान् दशिष्याम: कृतमेवं भविष्यति,“आचार्यके सिवा दूसरे जो-जो ब्राह्मण सर्पयज्ञकी विधिको जानते होंगे और जनमेजयके यज्ञमें ऋत्विज् बननेवाले होंगे, उन सबको हम डँस लेंगे। इस प्रकार सारा काम बन जायगा”
ye cānye sarpasatrajñā bhaviṣyanty asya cartvijaḥ | tāṁś ca sarvān daśiṣyāmaḥ kṛtam evaṁ bhaviṣyati ||
Śeṣa sprach: „Und alle anderen Brahmanen außer dem Lehrer—die das Verfahren des Schlangenopfers kennen und als ṛtvij in diesem Ritus dienen werden—die werden wir alle beißen. So wird unser Vorhaben vollbracht.“
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vengeance can expand from a single target to indiscriminate harm—here, even ritual experts and priests become marked for attack—illustrating the ethical danger of anger-driven, collective punishment.
Śeṣa outlines a plan to thwart or retaliate against the impending snake-sacrifice by biting not only the principal teacher but also any other Brahmins who know the rite and will officiate as priests in Janamejaya’s sacrifice.