Shloka 155

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

भूधरो नागमौज्जी च नागकुण्डलकुण्डली । नागयज्ञोपवीती च नागचर्मोत्तरच्छद:

Transliteration

bhūdharo nāgamaūjjī ca nāgakuṇḍalakuṇḍalī | nāgayajñopavītī ca nāgacarmottaracchadaḥ ||

Translation

واسودیو نے کہا—وہ زمین کا سہارا ہے؛ سانپوں کی کمر بند باندھے ہوئے ہے۔ سانپوں کے کُنڈل پہنے ہوئے ہے، سانپوں ہی کا یَجنوپویت (مقدس دھاگا) دھارتا ہے، اور سانپ کی کھال کو اوپری چادر کے طور پر اوڑھے رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• भूधरः: mountain-bearer; earth-supporter
• भूधरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नागमौज्जी: wearing a serpent as girdle/waistband
• नागमौज्जी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागमौज्जिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नागकुण्डलकुण्डली: having serpent-earrings; wearing serpent as earrings
• नागकुण्डलकुण्डली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागकुण्डलकुण्डलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नागयज्ञोपवीती: wearing a serpent as sacred thread (yajñopavīta)
• नागयज्ञोपवीती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागयज्ञोपवीतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नागचर्मोत्तरच्छदः: having a serpent-skin as upper garment/covering
• नागचर्मोत्तरच्छदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागचर्मोत्तरच्छद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Śeṣa (implied by the description as dharaṇīdhara and nāga-rūpa)
• Nāgas (serpents)
• yajñopavīta (sacred thread)
• kuṇḍala (earrings)
• nāga-carma (serpent-skin garment)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents Śeṣa as the steadfast supporter of the world, whose serpent-ornaments signify controlled strength and disciplined power dedicated to sustaining cosmic order—an ethical ideal of bearing responsibility without ego.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva is describing the form and insignia of the great Nāga Śeṣa: earth-bearing, serpent-girdled, serpent-earringed, wearing a serpent-made sacred thread, and covered with serpent-skin—iconic markers identifying him and his cosmic function.