Shloka 60
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
निर्मोक्षस्त्वस्य दोषस्य मया कार्या यथा तथा । मृत्योरपि न दोष: स्यादिति मे<त्र प्रयोजनम्
nirmokṣas tv asya doṣasya mayā kāryā yathā tathā | mṛtyor api na doṣaḥ syād iti me 'tra prayojanam ||
Le Serpent dit : « Je dois, par quelque moyen que ce soit, me laver du blâme qu’on a fait peser sur moi. Mon dessein en parlant n’est pas de prouver que même la Mort est en faute. »
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes between defending oneself against an accusation and shifting blame onto a larger principle like Death. Ethically, it emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s own standing—seeking exoneration without unjustly imputing fault to an inevitable cosmic force.
The Snake, speaking in the dialogue, clarifies his intention: he is trying to remove the दोष (blame) attributed to him, but he is not arguing that Death itself should be considered culpable. It is a statement of motive meant to prevent misunderstanding of his defense.