Shloka 4

Devanagari script

असज्तिरनाकाडुशक्षी नित्यमुछछशिलाशन: । सर्वभूतहिते युक्त एष विप्रो भुजड्रम,नागराज! ये ब्राह्मण असंग रहकर लौकिक कामनाओंका त्याग कर चुके थे और सदा उउज्छ- एवं शिलवृत्तिसे प्राप्त हुए अन्नको ही खाते थे। ये निरन्तर समस्त प्राणियोंके हितसाधनमें संलग्न रहते थे

Transliteration

asaṅgatir anākāṅkṣī nityam ucchiṣṭa-śilāśanaḥ | sarva-bhūta-hite yukta eṣa vipro bhujaṅgama-nāgarāja ||

Translation

Sūrya dit : «Détaché et sans convoitise, il vit toujours de ce qu’il obtient selon les modes de subsistance de l’uñchavṛtti et de la śilavṛtti—glaner ce qui reste, recueillir péniblement quelques grains. Toujours voué au bien de tous les êtres, ce brahmane—ô seigneur des serpents—incarne l’idéal véritable.»

Word by Word

असक्तिःnon-attachment

अनाकाङ्क्षीdesireless; not longing

नित्यम्always

उञ्छशिलाशनःone who eats food obtained by gleaning and by the 'shila' mode

सर्वभूतहितेin the welfare of all beings

युक्तःengaged; devoted

एषःthis

विप्रःbrahmin; learned man

भुजगेंद्रम्the lord of serpents

नागराजO king of serpents

Speaker

सूर्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sūrya

Nāgarāja (serpent-king)

Vipra (a brahmin)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True brahminical excellence is defined by non-attachment and freedom from desire, a livelihood that minimizes harm and dependence (ucchiṣṭa/śilā-vṛtti), and steady commitment to the welfare of all beings (sarva-bhūta-hita).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sūrya addresses the serpent-king (Nāgarāja), pointing out and praising a brahmin whose austere mode of living and universal benevolence exemplify dharmic conduct.