Shloka 27
Jaratkāru’s Marital Compact and Departure (जरत्कारु–जरत्कारुणी संवादः)
कृत्वा तेषां च कार्याणि गम्यतामित्युवाच तान् | गतेषु तेषु नागेषु तापसच्छझरूपिषु,तदनन्तर उन्हें पारितोषिक देने आदिका कार्य करके कहा--“'अब आपलोग जाय॑।' तपस्वियोंके वेषमें छिपे हुए उन नागोंके चले जानेपर राजाने अपने मन्त्रियों और सुहृदोंसे कहा--'ये सब तपस्वियोंद्वारा लाये हुए बड़े स्वादिष्ठ फल हैं। इन्हें मेरे साथ आपलोग भी खायेँ।” ऐसा कहकर मन्सत्रियोंसहित राजाने उन फलोंको लेनेकी इच्छा की
kṛtvā teṣāṃ ca kāryāṇi gamyatām ity uvāca tān | gateṣu teṣu nāgeṣu tāpasacchannarūpiṣu |
Depois de cumprir as cortesias e os serviços devidos segundo o costume, disse àqueles visitantes: “Agora podeis partir.” Quando aqueles Nāgas—disfarçados sob a aparência de ascetas—se foram, o rei dirigiu-se aos seus ministros e amigos de confiança: “Estes são frutos extraordinariamente saborosos trazidos pelos ascetas; comei-os também comigo.” Assim dizendo, o rei, juntamente com seus ministros, desejou tomar aqueles frutos, sem perceber o engano oculto sob o semblante de santidade.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how outward signs of holiness can be misused for harm, warning that discernment must accompany respect. It also shows the ethical tension between proper hospitality toward apparent ascetics and the danger of uncritical trust when deception is at work.
Takṣaka’s Nāga agents, disguised as ascetics, depart after receiving hospitality. Once they leave, the king tells his ministers and friends that the fruits brought by the ‘ascetics’ are very tasty and invites them to eat together, not realizing the visitors were Nāgas in disguise and that the gift is part of a plot.