Shloka 23
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka
Chapter 57
निक्षिप्तमेतद् भुवि पन्नगास्तु रत्नं समासाद्य परामृशेयु: । यक्षास्तथोच्छिष्ट धृतं सुराश्च निद्रावशाद् वा परिधर्षयेयु:
nikṣiptam etad bhuvi pannagās tu ratnaṃ samāsādya parāmṛśeyuḥ | yakṣās tathocchiṣṭa-dhṛtaṃ surāś ca nidrāvaśād vā paridharṣayeyuḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : « Si l’on dépose ces boucles d’oreilles à même la terre, les nāgas, trouvant un tel joyau, s’en empareront. Si on les porte en état d’impureté, les Yakṣas les emporteront ; et si l’on s’endort en les gardant, même les dieux pourraient les arracher de force. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Valuable and power-laden possessions demand disciplined guardianship: do not leave them carelessly, maintain ritual and moral cleanliness in their use, and remain alert—negligence (carelessness, impurity, or sleep) invites loss and disorder.
The speaker warns about the peril of mishandling a precious pair of earrings: if set on the ground, serpents will snatch them; if worn while impure, Yakṣas will take them; and if one sleeps while wearing them, even the gods may forcibly seize them—highlighting constant risk around coveted treasure.