Shloka 256
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
वश्यतां च गतोडसौ न: करिष्यति यथेप्सितम् । इसके बाद अन्य सर्पोने कहा--“हम उस यज्ञमें ऋत्विज हो जायँगे और यह कहकर कि हमें मुँहमाँगी दक्षिणा दो” यज्ञमें विघ्न खड़ा कर देंगे। उस समय राजा हमारे वशमें पड़कर जैसी हमारी इच्छा होगी
vaśyatāṃ ca gato 'sau naḥ kariṣyati yathepsitam |
シェーシャは言った。「いまや彼は我らの支配下に入った。望むとおりに振る舞うであろう。」すると他の蛇たちは言った。「我らはそのヤジュニャの祭官（ṛtvij）となり、『望むだけのダクシナー（謝礼）を与えよ』と要求して儀礼に妨げを起こそう。そのとき王は我らに屈し、我らの意のままに動くであろう。」
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage warns against corrupting sacred institutions: when ritual authority (ṛtvij-hood) is driven by greed for dakṣiṇā and used to manipulate rulers, yajña loses its dharmic purpose and becomes a tool of harm.
Śeṣa declares that the king is now under the serpents’ control. The serpents plan to enter the king’s sacrifice as officiating priests, demand any fee they like, and thereby create a disruption, forcing the king to comply with their wishes.