Shloka 21

Nāga-prādhānya-nāma-kathana

Principal Nāga Names Enumerated

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता: कश्यपेन वालखिल्यास्तपोधना: । प्रत्यूचुरभिसम्पूज्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रजापतिम्‌,महर्षि कश्यपके ऐसा कहनेपर तपस्याके धनी वालखिल्य मुनि उन मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रजापतिका सत्कार करके बोले

Transliteration

evamuktāḥ kaśyapena vālakhilyās tapodhanāḥ | pratyūcur abhisampūjya muniśreṣṭhaṁ prajāpatiṁ maharṣiṁ kaśyapam ||

Translation

ครั้นกัศยปะกล่าวดังนั้นแล้ว เหล่าฤๅษีวาลขิลยะผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยเดชตบะ ได้ถวายความเคารพแด่ปรชาปติ มุนีผู้ประเสริฐ คือมหาฤๅษีกัศยปะก่อน แล้วจึงกล่าวตอบ

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्ताःhaving been spoken to / addressed

कश्यपेनby Kaśyapa

वालखिल्याःthe Vālakhilya sages

तपोधनाःrich in austerity (ascetic-wealthy)

प्रत्यूचुःthey replied

अभिसम्पूज्यhaving duly honored

मुनिश्रेष्ठम्the best of sages

प्रजापतिम्the Prajāpati (lord of creatures)

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kaśyapa

Vālakhilya sages

Prajāpati

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before replying—especially to a revered elder or teacher—one should first show due honor. The verse models disciplined speech grounded in tapas and dharmic etiquette.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Kaśyapa addresses them, the Vālakhilya sages respectfully honor him as the foremost sage and Prajāpati, and then give their response.