Shloka 21
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
अपरे त्वब्रुवन् नागा: समिद्धं जातवेदसम् । वर्षैनिवापयिष्यामो मेघा भूत्वा सविद्युत:,इसपर दूसरे नाग बोल उठे--'जिस समय सर्पयज्ञके लिये अग्नि प्रजजलित होगी, उस समय हम बिजलियोंसहित मेघ बनकर पानीकी वर्षद्वारा उसे बुझा देंगे
apare tv abruvan nāgāḥ samiddhaṃ jātavedasam | varṣair nivāpayiṣyāmo meghā bhūtvā sa-vidyutaḥ ||
Other Nāgas spoke up: “When the sacrificial fire—Jātavedas—has been kindled for the serpent-sacrifice, we shall become clouds with lightning and extinguish it by pouring down rain.” In the narrative, this is a strategy of self-preservation against a ritual meant to destroy them, showing how fear can drive even powerful beings to counter sacred acts with forceful means.
शेष उवाच