Shloka 256
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
वश्यतां च गतोडसौ न: करिष्यति यथेप्सितम् । इसके बाद अन्य सर्पोने कहा--“हम उस यज्ञमें ऋत्विज हो जायँगे और यह कहकर कि हमें मुँहमाँगी दक्षिणा दो” यज्ञमें विघ्न खड़ा कर देंगे। उस समय राजा हमारे वशमें पड़कर जैसी हमारी इच्छा होगी, वैसा करेंगे”
vaśyatāṃ ca gato 'sau naḥ kariṣyati yathepsitam |
Śeṣa said: “He has now come under our control; he will act exactly as we desire.” Then the other serpents added: “We will become officiating priests (ṛtvij) in that sacrifice, and by demanding whatever fee (dakṣiṇā) we please, we will create an obstruction in the rite. At that time the king, subdued by us, will do as we wish.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage warns against corrupting sacred institutions: when ritual authority (ṛtvij-hood) is driven by greed for dakṣiṇā and used to manipulate rulers, yajña loses its dharmic purpose and becomes a tool of harm.
Śeṣa declares that the king is now under the serpents’ control. The serpents plan to enter the king’s sacrifice as officiating priests, demand any fee they like, and thereby create a disruption, forcing the king to comply with their wishes.