Shloka 33
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति तास्तमब्लुवन् वयं देवस्त्रियोडप्सरस इन्द्र देव॑ वरदं पुरा प्रभविष्णुं वृणीमह इति,तब त्वष्टाके पुत्र विश्वरूपने उनसे कहा--“कहाँ जाओगी? अभी यहीं मेरे साथ रहो। इससे तुम्हारा भला होगा।” यह सुनकर वे अप्सराएँ बोलीं--“हम सब देवांगना--अप्सराएँ हैं। हमने पहलेसे ही वरदायक देवता प्रभावशाली इन्द्रका वरण कर लिया है”
tās tvaṣṭā uvāca: kva gamiṣyathāsyatāṃ tāvan mayā saha śreyo bhaviṣyantīti | tās tam abruvan: vayaṃ deva-striyo 'psarasa indraṃ devaṃ varadaṃ purā prabhaviṣṇuṃ vṛṇīmahe iti ||
Tvaṣṭṛ’s son Viśvarūpa said to them, “Where are you going? Stay here with me for a while; it will be for your welfare.” Hearing this, the Apsarases replied, “We are celestial women, Apsarases. Long ago we chose Indra—the mighty, boon-giving god—as our lord.”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts a claim of immediate “welfare” (śreyas) offered by Tvaṣṭṛ with the Apsarases’ prior commitment: ethical steadiness is shown through honoring an already-made choice and allegiance rather than shifting due to a new invitation.
Tvaṣṭṛ tries to detain the Apsarases, urging them to remain with him for their benefit. They refuse, identifying themselves as celestial nymphs and stating that they have already chosen Indra, the powerful giver of boons, as their lord.