Shloka 16
अध्याय ४ — द्वारकानिमित्तानि, प्रभासगमनम्, मौसलप्रारम्भः
Omens in Dvārakā, Journey to Prabhāsa, and the Musala Outbreak
ह्राद: क्राथ: शितिकण्ठोग्रतेजा- स्तथा नागौ चक्रमन्दातिषण्डौ | नागश्रेष्ठो दुर्मुख श्चाम्बरीष: स्वयं राजा वरुणश्लापि राजन्,राजन्! कर्कोटक, वासुकि, तक्षक, पृथुश्रवा, अरुण, कुज्जर, मिश्री, शंख, कुमुद, पुण्डरीक, महामना धुृतराष्ट्र, हाद, क्राथ, शितिकण्ठ, उम्रतेजा, चक्रमन्द, अतिषण्ड, नागप्रवर दुर्मुख, अम्बरीष, और स्वयं राजा वरुणने भी उनका स्वागत किया
hrādaḥ krāthaḥ śitikaṇṭhogra-tejās tathā nāgau cakramandātiṣaṇḍau | nāgaśreṣṭho durmukhaś cāmbharīṣaḥ svayaṁ rājā varuṇaś cāpi rājan ||
Waiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, Hrāda dan Krātha, Śitikaṇṭha yang berkilau garang, juga dua nāga Cakramanda dan Atiṣaṇḍa; nāga utama Durmukha dan Ambharīṣa; bahkan Raja Varuṇa sendiri—mereka pun maju menyambut dengan hormat.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid catastrophe, dharma expresses itself through conduct—especially honoring guests and maintaining respectful protocol. The verse highlights that dignity and duty persist beyond human courts, extending into the nāga and Varuṇa’s realm.
A group of prominent nāgas—named individually—and King Varuṇa himself are described as coming forward to welcome the arriving party. The emphasis is on formal reception and the stature of those offering it.