Shloka 13
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
स नः प्रक्ष्यति सर्वेषु कार्येष्वर्थविनिश्चवयम् । तत्र बुद्धि प्रदास्यामो यथा यज्ञो निवर्त्स्यति
sa naḥ prakṣyati sarveṣu kāryeṣv artha-viniścayam | tatra buddhiṁ pradāsyāmo yathā yajño nivartsyati ||
Śeṣa berkata: “Baginda akan meminta pandangan kita dalam setiap urusan untuk menentukan apa yang patut dilakukan dan tujuan yang harus dicapai. Pada saat itu kita akan memberikan nasihat sedemikian rupa sehingga yajña itu dihentikan dan tidak diteruskan.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of counsel (buddhi) in shaping outcomes: guidance can uphold or derail a righteous act, so discernment about purpose (artha-viniścaya) and the intent behind advice is crucial.
Śeṣa describes a future moment when someone will seek their advice on deciding the proper aim in various actions; Śeṣa declares that they will then provide counsel designed specifically to prevent the yajña (sacrificial rite) from taking place.