Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल २६ श्लोक हैं) हि ही बक। हि मा मम सप्तत्रिशो5्ध्याय: माताके शापसे बचनेके लिये हक कि आदि नागोंका परस्पर परामश सौतिरुवाच मातु: सकाशात् त॑ शापं श्रुत्वा वै पन्नगोत्तम: । वासुकिश्चिन्तयामास शापो5यं न भवेत् कथम्
mātuḥ sakāśāt taṁ śāpaṁ śrutvā vai pannagottamaḥ | vāsukiś cintayāmāsa śāpo 'yaṁ na bhavet katham ||
Setelah mendengar daripada pihak ibunya tentang sumpahan yang menimpa kaum ular, yang terunggul antara nāga—Vāsuki—dikuasai kegelisahan. Lalu dia merenung: “Bagaimanakah sumpahan ini dapat dihalang daripada menjadi kenyataan?”
शेष उवाच
Even when a calamity is framed as inevitable (a śāpa), responsible leadership responds with thoughtful inquiry and ethical effort—seeking lawful, wise means to protect the community rather than surrendering to despair.
After learning that Kadrū’s curse threatens the nāgas, their leader Vāsuki becomes deeply concerned and starts deliberating on how the curse might be averted—setting up the nāgas’ later consultations and actions connected with the serpent-sacrifice narrative.