Shloka 1
7 अं ड-ऑ का एकोनषष्टर्याधेकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: नागराजका घर लौटना
Bhīṣma uvāca: atha kāle bahuvidhe pūrṇe prāpto bhujaṅgamaḥ | dattābhyanujñaḥ svaṁ veśma kṛtakarmā vivasvatā ||
Bhishma said: When a long span of time, marked by many events, had passed and the serpent-king’s task was completed, he—having received permission from Vivasvat (the Sun)—returned to his own home. The narrative frames the return not as mere travel, but as the ethical closure of a duty undertaken under rightful authority.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as disciplined completion of one’s assigned task and returning only after rightful permission—ethical action is shown as duty performed under legitimate authority, not impulsive self-will.
Bhishma narrates to Yudhishthira that after many days and after finishing his work, the serpent-king receives leave from the Sun-god (Vivasvat) and goes back to his own home, setting up the ensuing domestic dialogue on dharma.