Shloka 20
शृङ्गिशापः—तक्षककाश्यपसंवादः (Śṛṅgī’s Curse and the Takṣaka–Kāśyapa Dialogue)
तेषां श्रुत्वा स नागेन्द्रस्तां कन््यां समलंकृताम् । प्रगृह्मारण्यमगमत् समीप॑ं तस्य पन्नग:,उनकी बात सुनकर नागराज वासुकि अपनी उस कुमारी बहिनको वस्त्राभूषणोंसे विभूषित करके साथ ले वनमें मुनिके समीप गये
teṣāṃ śrutvā sa nāgendras tāṃ kanyāṃ samalaṅkṛtām | pragṛhya āraṇyam agamat samīpaṃ tasya pannagaḥ ||
Hearing their words, the lord of serpents had that maiden adorned with garments and ornaments. Taking her with him, the serpent went into the forest and approached the sage—acting promptly to carry out what had been agreed, and showing the weight of pledged word and duty even among the Nāgas.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to one’s word and timely action: once a course is agreed upon, it is carried out with propriety (the maiden is respectfully adorned) and without delay.
After hearing the others’ proposal, the serpent-king has the maiden decorated and takes her into the forest to the vicinity of the sage, indicating the next step in a negotiated or planned encounter involving the muni.