Shloka 81

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

बहुशीर्षास्ततो नागा: शिरोभिर्जलसंततिम्‌ । मुमुचु: पावकाभ्याशे सत्वरा: क्रोधमूर्च्छिता:,अनेक सिरवाले नाग भी क्रोधसे मूर्च्छित हो अपने मस्तकोंद्वारा अग्निके समीप शीघ्रतापूर्वक जलकी धारा बरसाने लगे

Transliteration

bahuśīrṣās tato nāgāḥ śirobhir jalasantatim | mumucuḥ pāvakābhyāśe satvarāḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ ||

Translation

Puis les nāga aux multiples têtes, ivres de colère, déversèrent en hâte, depuis leurs capuchons, des nappes d’eau continues tout près du feu—tentative pressante et furieuse de contenir l’embrasement et de se protéger.

Word by Word

बहुशीर्षाःmany-headed

ततःthen, thereafter

नागाःserpents (Nāgas)

शिरोभिःwith (their) heads

जलसंततिम्a continuous stream of water

मुमुचुःthey released, let loose

पावकाभ्याशेnear the fire

सत्वराःswift, in haste

क्रोधमूर्च्छिताःfaint/overcome with anger

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Nāgāḥ (serpents)

Pāvaka/Agni (fire)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) can overwhelm discernment and drive frantic action; even when responding to danger, being 'krodhamūrcchita' suggests a loss of clarity, implying the ethical value of self-control amid crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Many-headed Nāgas, enraged and agitated, rush to counter a nearby fire by releasing continuous streams of water from their hoods, attempting to suppress the flames.