Shloka 15

सर्पसत्रे ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च — Officiants and Assembly at Janamejaya’s Serpent-Sacrifice

Devanagari script

सान्त्वमानार्थदानैश्न पूजया चानुरूपया । सोदर्या पूजयामास स्वसारं पन्नगोत्तम:,सर्पोमें श्रेष्ठ वासुकि अपनी सहोदरा बहिनको सान्त्वना, सम्मान तथा धन देकर एवं सुन्दररूपसे उसका स्वागत-सत्कार करके उसकी समाराधना करने लगे

Transliteration

sāntvamānārthadānaiś ca pūjayā cānurūpayā | sodaryāḥ pūjayāmāsa svasāraṃ pannagottamaḥ ||

Translation

Takṣaka said: “With soothing words, with gifts of wealth, and with fitting honors, the foremost of serpents began to pay reverent attention to his own sister, receiving her with courtesy and care.” The verse highlights a conciliatory ethic: when family bonds are strained, one should restore harmony through gentle speech, appropriate respect, and responsible generosity rather than coercion.

Word by Word

सान्त्वमानैःby consolations

अर्थदानैःby gifts of wealth

नand (also)

पूजयाby worship/honour

चand

अनुरूपयाappropriate, fitting

सोदऱ्याby/with (his) full sister

पूजयामासhonoured, worshipped

स्वसारम्(his) sister

पन्नगोत्तमःthe best of serpents

Speaker

तक्षक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Takṣaka

pannagottamaḥ (foremost serpent)

svasā (his sister)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Harmony—especially within family—is best restored through sāntva (gentle, calming speech), māna (respect), and appropriate pūjā (honor), supported by responsible giving (artha-dāna). The ethic favors reconciliation and dignity over harshness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker describes the foremost serpent attending to his own sister: he consoles her, honors her suitably, and offers gifts, thereby formally receiving and reassuring her.