Shloka 4
Jaratkāru’s Marital Compact and Departure (जरत्कारु–जरत्कारुणी संवादः)
सौतिर्वाच एवमुक्त: स नागेन्द्र: काश्यपेन महात्मना । अदशद् वृक्षमभ्येत्य न्यग्रोध॑ं पन्नगोत्तम:
Sautir uvāca—evam uktaḥ sa nāgendraḥ Kāśyapena mahātmanā | adaśad vṛkṣam abhyetya nyagrodhaṃ pannagottamaḥ ||
सौति बोले—महात्मा काश्यप के ऐसा कहने पर सर्पों में श्रेष्ठ नागराज तक्षक निकट जाकर वटवृक्ष को डँस लिया।
काश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse hints at the ethical idea that displays of power rooted in anger or arrogance tend toward harm and invite consequences; destructive capability is not the same as righteousness (dharma).
After Kāśyapa speaks, Takṣaka—described as the serpent-king—approaches a banyan tree and bites it, a demonstrative act within the ongoing serpent-related episode narrated by Sauti.