Shloka 3
शृङ्गिशापः—तक्षककाश्यपसंवादः (Śṛṅgī’s Curse and the Takṣaka–Kāśyapa Dialogue)
अहमेव जरत्कारु: किल्बिषी भवतां सुतः । ते दण्डं धारयत मे दुष्कृतेरकृतात्मन:,जरत्कारुने कहा--आप मेरे ही पूर्वज पिता और पितामह आदि हैं। अतः बताइये आपका प्रिय करनेके लिये मुझे क्या करना चाहिये। मैं ही आपलोगोंका पुत्र पापी जरत्कारु हूँ। आप मुझ अकृतात्मा पापीको इच्छानुसार दण्ड दें
ahameva jaratkāruḥ kilbiṣī bhavatāṃ sutaḥ | te daṇḍaṃ dhārayata me duṣkṛter akṛtātmanaḥ ||
Takṣaka said: “I am indeed Jaratkāru—your sinful son. For the wrongdoing of me, a man of ungoverned self, you may impose upon me whatever punishment you deem fit.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds moral accountability: one who recognizes his own wrongdoing (duṣkṛti) and lack of self-mastery (akṛtātman) accepts the legitimacy of daṇḍa (disciplinary punishment) as a dharmic corrective rather than mere retaliation.
Takṣaka speaks in a tone of confession and submission, identifying himself as Jaratkāru and acknowledging guilt. He addresses elders/others respectfully (“bhavatām”) and invites them to impose whatever punishment they judge appropriate for his misdeed.