Shloka 20
Jaratkāru-nirukti and Parīkṣit’s forest encounter (जরত्कारुनिरुक्तिः—परिक्षिद्वनप्रसङ्गः)
ड ; 5 हे ः ; ४ शेष उवाच यथाह देवो वरद: प्रजापति- महीपतिर्भूतपतिर्जगत्पति: । तथा महीं धारयितास्मि निश्चलां प्रयच्छतां मे शिरसि प्रजापते,शेषनागने कहा--प्रजापते! आप वरदायक देवता, समस्त प्रजाके पालक, पृथ्वीके रक्षक, भूत-प्राणियोंके स्वामी और सम्पूर्ण जगत्के अधिपति हैं। आप जैसी आज्ञा देते हैं, उसके अनुसार मैं इस पृथ्वीको इस तरह धारण करूँगा, जिससे यह हिले-डुले नहीं। आप इसे मेरे सिरपर रख दें
śeṣa uvāca | yathāha devo varadaḥ prajāpatiḥ mahīpatir bhūtapatiḥ jagatpatiḥ | tathā mahīṃ dhārayitāsmi niścalāṃ prayacchatāṃ me śirasi prajāpate ||
Śeṣa said: “O Prajāpati, you are the boon-giving Lord—protector of the earth, master of beings, and ruler of the world. Just as you command, so shall I uphold this earth, keeping it steady and unmoving. Place it upon my head, O Prajāpati.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as steadfast service: Śeṣa accepts responsibility to uphold the earth exactly as commanded by Prajāpati, emphasizing obedience, reliability, and maintaining cosmic stability.
Śeṣa addresses Prajāpati (Brahmā), praises him with royal-cosmic epithets, and declares his readiness to bear the earth firmly; he asks Prajāpati to place the earth upon his head so it will not shake.