Shloka 23
एवमुक्त: स भगवान् जरत्कारुर्महातपा:,नागकन्याके ऐसा कहनेपर महातपस्वी भगवान् जरत्कारु जाग उठे। उस समय क्रोधके मारे उनके होठ काँपने लगे। वे इस प्रकार बोले--“नागकन्ये! तूने मेरा यह अपमान किया है
evam uktaḥ sa bhagavān jaratkāruḥ mahātapāḥ | nāgakanye iti vacane mahātapāsvī bhagavān jaratkāruḥ prabuddhaḥ | tadā krodhavaśāt tasya oṣṭhau kampamānau | sa evam uvāca—“nāgakanye! tvayā mama ayam apamānaḥ kṛtaḥ” |
Thus addressed, the venerable and great ascetic Jaratkāru was roused. In that moment, seized by anger, his lips began to tremble. He spoke: “O Nāga maiden! You have insulted me.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical challenge of mastering anger: even a great ascetic can be disturbed by perceived disrespect. It implicitly points to the dharmic ideal of restraint—responding to provocation without losing inner composure.
After being spoken to (by the Nāga maiden), the ascetic Jaratkāru awakens, visibly shaken by anger (his lips tremble), and he rebukes her, accusing her of insulting him. The scene sets up conflict driven by pride, speech, and emotional reaction.