Shloka 266
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
गृहमानीय बध्नीम: क्रतुरेवं भवेज्न सः । फिर अन्य नाग बोले--“जब राजा जनमेजय जल-क्रीड़ा करते हों, उस समय उन्हें वहाँसे खींचकर हम अपने घर ले आवें और बाँधकर रख लें। ऐसा करनेसे वह यज्ञ होगा ही नहीं'--
gṛham ānīya badhnīmaḥ kratū r evaṁ bhavej na saḥ |
Śeṣa berkata: “Mari kita tangkap Raja Janamejaya ketika ia sedang bersenang-senang di air, seret dia dari sana ke kediaman kita, lalu ikat erat. Jika kita melakukan ini, yajña itu tidak akan terjadi sama sekali.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethically fraught strategy: attempting to prevent a destructive ritual by abducting and restraining the king. It raises the tension between self-preservation and adharma—using coercion and violence to avert a greater harm—showing how fear and retaliation can drive parties toward morally compromised choices.
Śeṣa proposes a concrete plan to the Nāgas: when King Janamejaya is engaged in water-play, they should pull him away to their abode and bind him, thereby preventing the intended sacrifice from being performed.