Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
सर्प उवाच को न्वर्जुनक दोषोअत्र विद्यते मम बालिश । अस्वतन्त्र हि मां मृत्युर्विवशं यदचूचुदत्
sarpa uvāca: ko nv arjunaka doṣo 'tra vidyate mama bāliśa? asvatantraḥ hi māṃ mṛtyur vivaśaṃ yad acūcudat.
ງູໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ອາຣຊຸນະກະ ຜູ້ໂງ່ເຂົາ, ໃນເລື່ອງນີ້ ຂ້ອຍມີຜິດອັນໃດ? ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແມ່ນເຈົ້າຂອງຕົນເອງ. ຄວາມຕາຍໄດ້ບັງຄັບຂ້ອຍຢ່າງບໍ່ເຕັມໃຈ ແລະຜັກດັນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດການນີ້».
सर्प उवाच
The verse raises the ethical tension between personal culpability and compulsion: the serpent claims diminished responsibility because it acted under the coercion of Mṛtyu (Death/fate), prompting reflection on how dharma judges actions done under force or destiny.
In a dialogue, the serpent addresses Arjunaka and defends itself against blame, arguing that it was not acting freely; rather, Death compelled it to perform the act in question.