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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 ||

舍沙说道:“我们必须设法,使阇那弥阇耶为毁灭群蛇而兴起的那场祭祀,要么根本不得举行;要么即便举行,也须受阻而归于失败。”

यथाso that; in such a way that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
सःthat (he/it)
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यज्ञःsacrifice; ritual
यज्ञः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
भवेत्might be; would occur
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
यथाor so that; just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
अपिalso; even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
पराभवःdefeat; obstruction; failure
पराभवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपराभव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जनमेजयस्यof Janamejaya
जनमेजयस्य:
TypeProperNoun
Rootजनमेजय
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सर्पाणाम्of the serpents
सर्पाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसर्प
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
विनाशdestruction
विनाश:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविनाश
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
करणायfor the purpose of doing/causing
करणाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootकरण
FormNeuter, Dative, Singular
वैindeed; surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै

शेष उवाच

Ś
Śeṣa
J
Janamejaya
S
Sarpa (serpents)
Y
Yajña (snake-sacrifice / sarpasatra)

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.