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 dijo: «Con palabras apaciguadoras, con dones de riqueza y con honores convenientes, el más excelso de los ofidios comenzó a atender con reverencia a su propia hermana, recibiéndola con cortesía y cuidado». El verso subraya una ética de conciliación: cuando los lazos familiares se tensan, la armonía debe restaurarse mediante habla suave, respeto apropiado y generosidad responsable, no por coerción.

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

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.