Shloka 24
Jaratkāru-nirukti and Parīkṣit’s forest encounter (जরত्कारुनिरुक्तिः—परिक्षिद्वनप्रसङ्गः)
सौतिरुवाच अधोभूमौ वसत्येवं नागो5नन्तः प्रतापवान् । धारयन् वसुधामेक: शासनाद् ब्रह्मणो विभु:,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--शौनक! इस प्रकार प्रतापी नाग भगवान् अनन्त अकेले ही ब्रह्माजीके आदेशसे इस सारी पृथ्वीको धारण करते हुए भूमिके नीचे पाताल-लोकमें निवास करते हैं
sautir uvāca: adho-bhūmau vasaty evaṃ nāgo 'nantaḥ pratāpavān | dhārayan vasudhām ekaḥ śāsanād brahmaṇo vibhuḥ ||
Sauti said: “Thus, beneath the earth dwells the mighty serpent Ananta. By the command of Brahmā, that all-powerful one alone upholds the entire world.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights cosmic dharma: the world is sustained through ordained responsibility. Ananta’s solitary bearing of the earth, performed under Brahmā’s command, models steadfast service and the idea that stability arises when power is aligned with rightful authority and duty.
In Sauti’s narration to the sages, he describes the cosmic serpent Ananta (Śeṣa) dwelling beneath the earth and supporting it single-handedly, acting in obedience to Brahmā’s directive—an explanatory mythic detail about how the earth is upheld.