Shloka 7
तस्य पूर्व शिरो ग्रस्तं पुच्छमस्य निगीर्य च । निगीर्यमाणा साक्रामत् सुतं नागी मुमुक्षया
tasya pūrvaṃ śiro grastaṃ puccham asya nigīrya ca | nigīryamāṇā sākramat sutaṃ nāgī mumukṣayā ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。彼女はまず子の頭を呑み、ついで尾までも呑み込んだ。そしてなお呑み込みつつ、蛇母は子を救わんと身を翻して逃れようとした—空へ舞い上がり、危地を脱しようと努めたのである。この場面は、母の激しい護子の衝動を示す。たとえそれが、追い詰められた末の、道義的にも重い行為であっても。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power of parental (especially maternal) duty and compassion: the mother-serpent acts with single-minded urgency to protect her child, illustrating how dharma can appear in instinctive, sacrificial care—even amid actions that may seem harsh or dangerous.
A female serpent begins swallowing someone—first the head, then the tail—and, while still in the act, she moves away attempting to escape, motivated by the intention to save her son.