Shloka 33
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति तास्तमब्लुवन् वयं देवस्त्रियोडप्सरस इन्द्र देव॑ वरदं पुरा प्रभविष्णुं वृणीमह इति
tās tvaṣṭā uvāca: kva gamiṣyathāsyatāṃ tāvan mayā saha śreyo bhaviṣyantīti | tās tam abruvan: vayaṃ deva-striyo 'psarasa indraṃ devaṃ varadaṃ purā prabhaviṣṇuṃ vṛṇīmahe iti ||
Sinabi ni Viśvarūpa, anak ni Tvaṣṭṛ, sa kanila: “Saan kayo pupunta? Manatili muna kayo rito kasama ko; ikabubuti ninyo iyan.” Sumagot ang mga Apsaras: “Kami ay mga babae ng mga diyos—mga Apsaras. Noon pa man, pinili na namin si Indra, ang makapangyarihan at mapagkaloob na diyos, bilang aming panginoon.”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts a claim of immediate “welfare” (śreyas) offered by Tvaṣṭṛ with the Apsarases’ prior commitment: ethical steadiness is shown through honoring an already-made choice and allegiance rather than shifting due to a new invitation.
Tvaṣṭṛ tries to detain the Apsarases, urging them to remain with him for their benefit. They refuse, identifying themselves as celestial nymphs and stating that they have already chosen Indra, the powerful giver of boons, as their lord.