Shloka 18

Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit

Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link

Devanagari script

ये चान्ये सर्पसत्रज्ञा भविष्यन्त्यस्य चर्त्विज: । तांश्व सर्वान्‌ दशिष्याम: कृतमेवं भविष्यति

Transliteration

ye cānye sarpasatrajñā bhaviṣyanty asya cartvijaḥ | tāṁś ca sarvān daśiṣyāmaḥ kṛtam evaṁ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

ആചാര്യനെ കൂടാതെ, സർപ്പസത്രവിധി അറിയുന്നവരും അവന്റെ ഈ യാഗത്തിൽ ഋത്വിജരായി വരാനിരിക്കുന്നവരുമായ മറ്റു ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരെല്ലാം ഞങ്ങൾ കടിക്കും. ഇങ്ങനെ ചെയ്താൽ നമ്മുടെ കാര്യം സിദ്ധിക്കും.

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्पसत्रज्ञाः: knowers of the snake-sacrifice (rite)
• सर्पसत्रज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पसत्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भविष्यन्ति: will be / will become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural

• अस्य: of this (sacrifice/king)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ऋत्विजः: priests (officiants)
• ऋत्विजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दशिष्यामः: we shall bite/sting
• Type: Verb
• Root: दंश्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Plural

• कृतम्: done; accomplished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• भविष्यति: will be; will happen
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Singular

Speaker

शेष उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śeṣa
• sarpasatra (snake-sacrifice)
• ṛtvij (officiating priests)
• Janamejaya (implied by context: 'asya')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how vengeance can expand from a single target to indiscriminate harm—here, even ritual experts and priests become marked for attack—illustrating the ethical danger of anger-driven, collective punishment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śeṣa outlines a plan to thwart or retaliate against the impending snake-sacrifice by biting not only the principal teacher but also any other Brahmins who know the rite and will officiate as priests in Janamejaya’s sacrifice.