Shloka 9
शृङ्गिशापः—तक्षककाश्यपसंवादः (Śṛṅgī’s Curse and the Takṣaka–Kāśyapa Dialogue)
प्रतिग्रहीता तामस्मि न भरेयं च यामहम् । एवंविधमहं कुर्या निवेशं प्राप्तुयां यदि । अन्यथा न करिष्ये5हं सत्यमेतत् पितामहा:,(परंतु इसके लिये एक शर्त होगी--) “यदि मैं कभी अपने ही जैसे नामवाली कुमारी कन्या पाऊँगा, उसमें भी जो भिक्षाकी भाँति बिना माँगे स्वयं ही विवाहके लिये प्रस्तुत हो जायगी और जिसके पालन-पोषणका भार मुझपर न होगा, उसीका मैं पाणिग्रहण करूँगा।” यदि ऐसा विवाह मुझे सुलभ हो जाय तो कर लूँगा, अन्यथा विवाह करूँगा ही नहीं। पितामहो! यह मेरा सत्य निश्चय है
pratigrahītā tām asmi na bhareyaṃ ca yām aham | evaṃvidham ahaṃ kuryā niveśaṃ prāptuyāṃ yadi | anyathā na kariṣye'haṃ satyam etat pitāmahāḥ ||
Takṣaka said: “I am prepared to accept her hand, yet I will not undertake the burden of maintaining a wife. I would enter into such a marriage only if I were to obtain a maiden of my own name and kind—one who, like an unsolicited alms, offers herself for marriage without being asked, and whose upkeep does not fall upon me. If such a match becomes available, I will marry; otherwise I will not marry at all. Grandfather, this is my truthful resolve.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of a vow (satya) and the responsibilities implied by marriage: accepting a relationship while refusing its obligations is presented as a firm personal resolve, highlighting tensions between desire, duty, and truthfulness.
Takṣaka addresses an elder (“grandfather”) and states conditions under which he would agree to marry: only if a suitable maiden presents herself without solicitation and without imposing maintenance obligations; otherwise he will remain unmarried, asserting this as his truthful decision.