Shloka 12
वयं हि भवता सर्वे गुणक्रीता विशेषत: । यस्त्वमात्महितं त्यक्त्वा मामेवेहानुरुध्यसे
vayaṃ hi bhavatā sarve guṇakrītā viśeṣataḥ | yas tvam ātmahitaṃ tyaktvā mām evehānurudhyase ||
ناگ نے کہا—آپ نے اپنی خوبیوں کے سبب ہم سب کو، خصوصاً، اپنا گرویدہ بنا لیا ہے؛ کیونکہ آپ اپنا ذاتی فائدہ بھی چھوڑ کر یہاں صرف میری بھلائی ہی کی فکر کر رہے ہیں۔
नाग उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral authority arises from guṇa (virtue): when someone sets aside personal advantage (ātmahita) to seek another’s welfare, they ‘win’ hearts more powerfully than by force or bargaining. The verse praises selfless concern as an ethical ideal.
A Nāga addresses a benefactor and expresses gratitude, saying that the benefactor has effectively ‘purchased’ the goodwill of all the Nāgas through exemplary conduct—because the benefactor is prioritizing the Nāga’s well-being over their own interests in the present situation.