Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
ज्ञातिवर्गस्य सौहार्दादात्मनश्व भुजज्भमा: । न च जानाति मे बुद्धि: किंचित् कर्तु वचो हि व:
jñātivargasya sauhārdād ātmanaś ca bhujagottamaḥ | na ca jānāti me buddhiḥ kiñcit kartuṃ vaco hi vaḥ ||
Śeṣa berkata: “Wahai ular-ular mulia! Karena kasih kepada kaum kerabatku, dan juga demi kesejahteraanku sendiri, pengertianku tidak melihat jalan apa pun untuk bertindak sesuai dengan apa yang kalian katakan.”
शेष उवाच
The verse highlights ethical hesitation when advice conflicts with loyalty to one’s kin and one’s own well-being; discernment (buddhi) must weigh counsel against duties arising from family bonds and self-preservation.
Śeṣa responds to another serpent’s instruction, stating that, considering affection for his relatives and his own interest, he cannot find any actionable way to follow that instruction.