Mahabharata 1.48.2 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 48, Shloka 2
सर्पसत्रे ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च — Officiants and Assembly at Janamejaya’s Serpent-Sacrifice
ततः स भुजगश्रेष्ठ: श्रुत्वा सुमहदप्रियम् । उवाच भगिनीं दीनां तदा दीनतर: स्वयम्,यह अत्यन्त अप्रिय समाचार सुनकर सर्पॉमें श्रेष्ठ वासुकि स्वयं भी बहुत दुःखी हो गये और दु:खमें पड़ी हुई अपनी बहिनसे बोले
tataḥ sa bhujagaśreṣṭhaḥ śrutvā sumahad apriyam | uvāca bhaginīṁ dīnāṁ tadā dīnataraḥ svayam ||
അത്യന്തം അപ്രിയവും ദുഃഖകരവുമായ വാർത്ത കേട്ട് നാഗശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ വാസുകി സ്വയം കൂടി കൂടുതൽ വിഷാദത്തിലായി, ഇതിനകം ദുഃഖിതയായിരുന്ന തന്റെ സഹോദരിയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു।
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical sensitivity in speech and conduct: when painful news arrives, one should respond with compassion, especially toward those already suffering, recognizing that grief can intensify and requires gentle, supportive communication.
A leading serpent (identified here as Vāsuki) hears extremely unwelcome news and, becoming even more sorrowful, addresses his sister who is already in distress, setting up the ensuing dialogue and response to the crisis.
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