Shloka 2

आदि पर्व — अध्याय 39: तक्षक–काश्यप संवादः, न्यग्रोधसंजीवनम्, पारिक्षितोपायः

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभृति तां कन्यां वासुकि: पर्यरक्षत । जरत्कारुं स्वसारं वै परं हर्षमवाप च,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--द्विजश्रेष्ठती एलापत्रकी बात सुनकर नागोंका चित्त प्रसन्न हो गया। वे सब-के-सब एक साथ बोल उठे--“ठीक है, ठीक है।” वासुकिको भी इस बातसे बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। वे उसी दिनसे अपनी बहिन जरत्कारुका बड़े चावसे पालन-पोषण करने लगे

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhṛti tāṃ kanyāṃ vāsukiḥ paryarakṣat | jaratkāruṃ svasāraṃ vai paraṃ harṣam avāpa ca ||

Translation

From that time onward, Vāsuki carefully protected the maiden Jaratkāru—his own sister—and he attained great joy. In the narrative context, this marks the Nāgas’ collective approval of the plan just spoken by Elāpatra: safeguarding Jaratkāru becomes a deliberate, duty-bound act aimed at securing the welfare of their lineage and averting looming danger.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tataḥ prabhṛti', 'meaning': 'from that time onward

• thenceforth'}, {'term': 'kanyā', 'meaning': 'maiden

• unmarried girl'}, {'term': 'Vāsukiḥ', 'meaning': 'Vāsuki, king/leader among the Nāgas'}, {'term': 'paryarakṣat', 'meaning': 'protected

• guarded with care (imperfect of pari-√rakṣ)'}, {'term': 'Jaratkārum', 'meaning': 'Jaratkāru (female), the sister of Vāsuki'}, {'term': 'svasāram', 'meaning': 'own sister'}, {'term': 'vai', 'meaning': 'indeed

• emphatic particle'}, {'term': 'param', 'meaning': 'great

• supreme'}, {'term': 'harṣam', 'meaning': 'joy

• delight'}, {'term': 'avāpa', 'meaning': 'obtained

• attained (aorist of √āp)'}, {'term': 'ca', 'meaning': 'and'}]

Speaker

एलापत्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Elāpatra
• Vāsuki
• Jaratkāru (female)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as protective responsibility: when a community recognizes a looming threat, rightful action includes safeguarding vulnerable members and honoring familial obligations, thereby supporting the continuity and welfare of the group.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Elāpatra’s counsel is accepted, Vāsuki begins, from that very time, to guard and care for his sister Jaratkāru, and he feels great happiness—signaling the Nāgas’ resolve to act on the agreed plan.