Shloka 5
नहि मां केवल दृष्टवा त्यक्त्वा प्रणणवानिह । गन्तुमर्हसि विप्रषें वृक्षमूलगतो यथा
nahi māṃ kevalaṃ dṛṣṭvā tyaktvā praṇaṇavān iha | gantum arhasi viprarṣe vṛkṣamūlagato yathā ||
“Xin đừng chỉ vừa thấy ta rồi bỏ ta mà rời khỏi nơi này. Hỡi bậc brahmarṣi trong hàng nhị sinh, ngài không nên ra đi như kẻ lữ hành qua đường: vừa ngồi chốc lát dưới gốc cây rồi đứng dậy bỏ đi ngay.”
नाग उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma in relationships: one should not treat an encounter as a casual, disposable meeting. When affection, obligation, or hospitality is present, it is improper to leave abruptly ‘after merely seeing’ someone, like a traveler who rests briefly under a tree and moves on without regard.
A Nāga addresses a revered sage (viprarṣi/brahmarṣi), urging him not to depart immediately after seeing the Nāga. The Nāga uses a simile of a wayfarer under a tree to criticize a fleeting, indifferent departure and to request continued engagement.