Shloka 2
को हि मां मानुष: शक्तो द्रष्टकामो यशस्विनि । संदर्शनरुचिर्वाक्यम ज्ञापूर्व वदिष्यति
ko hi māṁ mānuṣaḥ śakto draṣṭukāmo yaśasvini | sandarśanarucir vākyam ājñāpūrvaṁ vadiṣyati, yaśasvini ||
The Nāga said: “O illustrious lady, what human could possibly be capable of desiring to see me? And even if someone longed for such a sight, who would speak to me with words of command—summoning me as though giving an order, O renowned one?”
नाग उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint and propriety in addressing those of greater power or different status: desire for knowledge or vision does not justify commanding speech. Ethical communication requires humility and respect rather than entitlement.
A Nāga responds to an addressed woman (called “yaśasvinī”), expressing astonishment that any human would wish to see him and, more pointedly, that someone would attempt to summon him with commanding words—implying a breach of decorum or an overreach of human authority.