Shloka 5
सर्पसत्रे ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च — Officiants and Assembly at Janamejaya’s Serpent-Sacrifice
अप्यस्ति गर्भ: सुभगे तस्मात् ते मुनिसत्तमात् । न चेच्छाम्यफलं तस्य दारकर्म मनीषिण:,सुभगे! क्या उन मुनिश्रेष्ठसे तुम्हें गर्भ रह गया है? तुम्हारे साथ उन मनीषी महात्माका विवाह-कर्म निष्फल हो, यह मैं नहीं चाहता। मैं तुम्हारा भाई हूँ, ऐसे कार्य (पुत्रोत्पत्ति)-के विषयमें तुमसे कुछ पूछना मेरे लिये उचित नहीं है, परंतु कार्यके गौरवका विचार करके मैंने तुम्हें इस विषयमें सब बातें बतानेके लिये प्रेरित किया है
apy asti garbhaḥ subhage tasmāt te munisattamāt | na cecchāmy aphalaṁ tasya dārakarma manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Wika ni Takṣaka: “O mapalad na ginang, nagdalang-tao ka na ba mula sa pinakadakilang pantas na iyon? Ayaw kong maging walang bunga ang ritwal ng pag-aasawa ng marunong na banal. Bagaman ako’y kapatid mong lalaki, hindi nararapat na usisain ko ang lihim na bagay ng paglikha ng anak; subalit dahil sa bigat ng layunin, hinihiling kong sabihin mo ang lahat.”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: respect for personal modesty and boundaries versus the perceived higher duty of ensuring that a sacred marriage rite achieves its intended social-spiritual fruit—progeny. Takṣaka frames his inquiry as reluctant but justified by the seriousness of the purpose.
Takṣaka addresses a woman as ‘fortunate’ and asks whether she has conceived from a foremost sage. He states he does not want the sage’s marriage to be fruitless, and, despite acknowledging that such questioning is improper for a brother, he presses her to speak due to the importance of the matter.