Shloka 14

उच्चैःश्रवसः वर्णविपणः तथा नागशापः

Uccaiḥśravas Color-Wager and the Nāga Curse

Devanagari script

अमृतार्थे पुरा ब्रह्मंस्तथैवासुरदानवा: । एकमन्तमुप श्लिष्टा नागराज्ञों महासुरा:

Transliteration

amṛtārthe purā brahman tathaivāsura-dānavāḥ | ekāntam upaśliṣṭā nāgarājño mahāsurāḥ ||

Translation

Śaunaka said: “Formerly, O Brahman, seeking the nectar of immortality, the Asuras and Dānavas likewise drew close in secret to the Nāga-king—those mighty demons—(to enlist his support).”

Word by Word

• अमृतार्थे: for the sake of nectar (in the matter of nectar)
• अमृतार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृतार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Vocative, Singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• असुर: Asuras
• असुर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दानवाः: Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्तम्: end, limit, side
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उप: near, towards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप

• श्लिष्टाः: having clung/attached (gathered closely)
• श्लिष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्लिष्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• नागराज्ञः: of the serpent-queen (Nāgarājñī)
• नागराज्ञः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागराज्ञी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• महासुराः: great Asuras
• महासुराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Brahman (addressed sage)
• Asuras
• Dānavas
• Nāgarāja (Nāga-king)
• Amṛta

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the pursuit of extraordinary power (amṛta) can drive groups into secret alliances and strategic maneuvering, implying an ethical caution: desire for immortality or dominance often breeds intrigue and conflict rather than clarity of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka recalls an earlier episode: the Asuras and Dānavas, intent on obtaining amṛta, privately approached the Nāga-king to secure support—suggesting behind-the-scenes coalition-building in a larger struggle over the nectar.