Shloka 7
Jaratkāru-nirukti and Parīkṣit’s forest encounter (जরত्कारुनिरुक्तिः—परिक्षिद्वनप्रसङ्गः)
त्वं हि तीव्रेण तपसा प्रजास्तापयसेडनघ । ब्रूहि कामं च मे शेष यस्ते हृदि व्यवस्थित:,“अनघ! इस तीव्र तपस्याके द्वारा तुम सम्पूर्ण प्रजावर्गको संतप्त कर रहे हो। शेषनाग! तुम्हारे हृदयमें जो कामना हो वह मुझसे कहो”
tvaṁ hi tīvreṇa tapasā prajāstāpayase 'n-agha | brūhi kāmaṁ ca me śeṣa yas te hṛdi vyavasthitaḥ ||
Ó impecável! Por tua austeridade intensa, de fato estás causando aflição a todos os seres. Dize-me, ó Śeṣa: qual desejo está assentado em teu coração? Declara-o a mim.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) is powerful and can affect the wider world; therefore it should be guided by ethical responsibility and communicated intention. The verse frames true ascetic power as something that must be aligned with the welfare of beings, not merely personal intensity.
Śaunaka addresses Śeṣa, observing that his severe tapas is causing distress to living beings. He urges Śeṣa to state the wish lodged in his heart, implying that the purpose behind such austerity should be made explicit so it can be rightly fulfilled or redirected.