Shloka 113
वारुणी सभा — Varuṇa’s Divine Assembly
Nārada’s Description
पताकिनो मण्डलिन: फणावन्तश्न सर्वश: । (अनन्तश्न महानागो यं स दृष्टवा जलेश्वर: । अभ्यर्चयति सत्कारैरासनेन च त॑ विभुम् ।।
patākino maṇḍalinaḥ phaṇāvantaś ca sarvaśaḥ | (anantaś ca mahānāgo yaṃ sa dṛṣṭvā jaleśvaraḥ | abhyarcayati satkārair āsanena ca taṃ vibhum || vāsuki-pramukhāś caiva sarve prāñjalayaḥ sthitāḥ | anujñātāś ca śeṣeṇa yathāham upaviśya ca ||) ete cānye ca bahavaḥ sarpās tasyāṃ yudhiṣṭhira | upāsate mahātmānaṃ varuṇaṃ vigataklamāḥ ||
ナーラダは言った。「そこにはあらゆる蛇族がいる――旗を掲げ、輪のごとく身をとぐろに巻き、頭巾（フண）を冠のように戴く者たちである。大蛇アナンタが姿を現すと、水の主たるヴァルナは立ち上がり、その偉力ある者を敬って供物を捧げ、座を与える。ヴァースキをはじめ諸ナーガの首長たちは合掌して侍立し、シェーシャの許しを得て、私もまた礼にかなって着座した。これら、そしてなお数多のナーガたちが、ああユディシュティラよ、疲れを知らぬ大心のヴァルナにその場で仕えているのだ。」
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes reverent conduct and proper protocol in sacred or royal assemblies: even powerful beings honor one another according to rank and righteousness, showing that authority is strengthened—not diminished—by humility, hospitality, and orderly respect.
Nārada describes a divine setting associated with Varuṇa where many nāgas are present. Ananta/Śeṣa is honored by Varuṇa with formal courtesies, Vāsuki and other chief serpents stand with folded hands, and Nārada notes he sat only after receiving Śeṣa’s permission; the serpents continue to attend upon Varuṇa without fatigue.