Shloka 33
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
ज्ञातिवर्गस्य सौहार्दादात्मनश्व भुजज्भमा: । न च जानाति मे बुद्धि: किंचित् कर्तु वचो हि व:
jñātivargasya sauhārdād ātmanaś ca bhujagottamaḥ | na ca jānāti me buddhiḥ kiñcit kartuṃ vaco hi vaḥ ||
Śeṣa berkata: “Demi kasih sayang kepada kaum kerabatku, dan juga demi memelihara kesejahteraanku sendiri, akalku tidak melihat sebarang jalan untuk bertindak menurut kata-katamu, wahai yang terbaik antara ular.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical hesitation when advice conflicts with loyalty to one’s kin and one’s own well-being; discernment (buddhi) must weigh counsel against duties arising from family bonds and self-preservation.
Śeṣa responds to another serpent’s instruction, stating that, considering affection for his relatives and his own interest, he cannot find any actionable way to follow that instruction.