Shloka 9

Devanagari script

अहं स नागो विप्रर्षे यथा मां विन्दते भवान्‌ | आज्ञापय यथा स्वैरं कि करोमि प्रियं तव

Transliteration

ahaṃ sa nāgo viprarṣe yathā māṃ vindate bhavān | ājñāpaya yathā svairaṃ kiṃ karomi priyaṃ tava brahmarṣe ||

Translation

Le Nāga dit : «Ô brahmarṣi ! Je suis bien ce Nāga que tu cherchais à rencontrer. Tel que tu m’as reconnu, tel je me tiens devant toi. Ordonne librement selon ton désir : quel service, cher à ton cœur, dois-je accomplir ?»

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• सः: that (very)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नागः: serpent
• नागः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रर्षे: O brahmin-sage
• विप्रर्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यथा: as / in the manner that
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• विन्दते: finds / meets
• विन्दते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विन्दति)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आज्ञापय: command (me)
• आज्ञापय: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आज्ञा + √पि (आज्ञापयति)
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यथा: so that / as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• स्वैरम्: freely / at will
• स्वैरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वैर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• करोमि: do (shall I do)
• करोमि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (करोति)
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रियम्: dear / pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तव: of you / for you
• तव: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• ब्रह्मर्षे: O brahmarshi
• ब्रह्मर्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नाग उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nāga (serpent being)
• Viprarṣi/Brahmarṣi (a brahmin sage; unnamed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical readiness for rightful service: the Nāga openly identifies himself and submits to the sage’s direction, modeling humility, accountability, and willingness to act for another’s legitimate good.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Nāga addresses a brahmin seer who has been seeking him. Having been found/recognized, the Nāga confirms his identity and asks the sage to give any instruction, offering to perform whatever task would please him.