Shloka 256
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
वश्यतां च गतोडसौ न: करिष्यति यथेप्सितम् । इसके बाद अन्य सर्पोने कहा--“हम उस यज्ञमें ऋत्विज हो जायँगे और यह कहकर कि हमें मुँहमाँगी दक्षिणा दो” यज्ञमें विघ्न खड़ा कर देंगे। उस समय राजा हमारे वशमें पड़कर जैसी हमारी इच्छा होगी
vaśyatāṃ ca gato 'sau naḥ kariṣyati yathepsitam |
舍沙说道：“如今他已落入我等掌控之下；必将依我等所欲而行。”其余诸蛇又说：“我们将充任那场祭祀的祭官（ṛtvij），并以‘赐我等随心所欲之祭礼酬金（dakṣiṇā）’为名，在仪式中制造阻碍。届时国王既被我等制伏，便会照我等心意行事。”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage warns against corrupting sacred institutions: when ritual authority (ṛtvij-hood) is driven by greed for dakṣiṇā and used to manipulate rulers, yajña loses its dharmic purpose and becomes a tool of harm.
Śeṣa declares that the king is now under the serpents’ control. The serpents plan to enter the king’s sacrifice as officiating priests, demand any fee they like, and thereby create a disruption, forcing the king to comply with their wishes.