Shloka 7
तस्य पूर्व शिरो ग्रस्तं पुच्छमस्य निगीर्य च । निगीर्यमाणा साक्रामत् सुतं नागी मुमुक्षया
tasya pūrvaṃ śiro grastaṃ puccham asya nigīrya ca | nigīryamāṇā sākramat sutaṃ nāgī mumukṣayā ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— तस्य पूर्वं शिरो ग्रस्तं पुच्छमस्य निगीर्य च। निगीर्यमाणा साक्रामत् सुतं नागी मुमुक्षया॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power of parental (especially maternal) duty and compassion: the mother-serpent acts with single-minded urgency to protect her child, illustrating how dharma can appear in instinctive, sacrificial care—even amid actions that may seem harsh or dangerous.
A female serpent begins swallowing someone—first the head, then the tail—and, while still in the act, she moves away attempting to escape, motivated by the intention to save her son.