Shloka 12
वयं हि भवता सर्वे गुणक्रीता विशेषत: । यस्त्वमात्महितं त्यक्त्वा मामेवेहानुरुध्यसे
vayaṃ hi bhavatā sarve guṇakrītā viśeṣataḥ | yas tvam ātmahitaṃ tyaktvā mām evehānurudhyase ||
នាគបាននិយាយថា៖ «ពិតប្រាកដណាស់ ពួកយើងទាំងអស់គ្នាត្រូវបានលោកឈ្នះចិត្ត—ជាពិសេសដោយគុណធម៌របស់លោក។ ព្រោះលោកបានដាក់ចោលសូម្បីតែប្រយោជន៍ផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ហើយនៅទីនេះវិញ គិតគូរតែសុខុមាលភាពរបស់ខ្ញុំប៉ុណ្ណោះ»។
नाग उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral authority arises from guṇa (virtue): when someone sets aside personal advantage (ātmahita) to seek another’s welfare, they ‘win’ hearts more powerfully than by force or bargaining. The verse praises selfless concern as an ethical ideal.
A Nāga addresses a benefactor and expresses gratitude, saying that the benefactor has effectively ‘purchased’ the goodwill of all the Nāgas through exemplary conduct—because the benefactor is prioritizing the Nāga’s well-being over their own interests in the present situation.