Shloka 9
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
यथा स यज्ञो न भवेद् यथा वापि पराभव: । जनमेजयस्य सर्पाणां विनाशकरणाय वै,सर्पोके विनाशके लिये आरम्भ होनेवाला जनमेजयका यज्ञ जिस प्रकार टल जाय अथवा जिस तरह उसमें विघ्न पड़ जाय, वह उपाय हमें सोचना चाहिये
yathā sa yajño na bhaved yathā vāpi parābhavaḥ | janamejayasya sarpāṇāṁ vināśa-karaṇāya vai ||
Śeṣa nói: “Chúng ta phải nghĩ ra một kế sách để lễ tế của vua Janamejaya—được tiến hành nhằm tiêu diệt loài rắn—hoặc là không thể diễn ra, hoặc nếu diễn ra thì phải bị ngăn trở và dẫn đến thất bại.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights strategic and ethical reflection in the face of collective punishment: when a destructive ritual is set in motion, those threatened seek lawful or prudent means to prevent it or cause its failure, implying that power exercised through ritual should be examined for justice and proportionality.
Śeṣa, speaking on behalf of the serpent community, recognizes that King Janamejaya’s sacrifice is intended to exterminate the serpents. He urges that they think of a way to stop the sacrifice from being performed or to create an obstacle that makes it unsuccessful.