Shloka 33
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति तास्तमब्लुवन् वयं देवस्त्रियोडप्सरस इन्द्र देव॑ वरदं पुरा प्रभविष्णुं वृणीमह इति
tās tvaṣṭā uvāca: kva gamiṣyathāsyatāṃ tāvan mayā saha śreyo bhaviṣyantīti | tās tam abruvan: vayaṃ deva-striyo 'psarasa indraṃ devaṃ varadaṃ purā prabhaviṣṇuṃ vṛṇīmahe iti ||
毗湿瓦卢波（特瓦什特尔之子）对她们说：“你们要往哪里去？且与我同住片刻，这对你们有益。”阿普萨拉斯答道：“我们乃天界女众——阿普萨拉斯。早在往昔，我们已择定威能无比、赐福施恩的因陀罗为主。”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts a claim of immediate “welfare” (śreyas) offered by Tvaṣṭṛ with the Apsarases’ prior commitment: ethical steadiness is shown through honoring an already-made choice and allegiance rather than shifting due to a new invitation.
Tvaṣṭṛ tries to detain the Apsarases, urging them to remain with him for their benefit. They refuse, identifying themselves as celestial nymphs and stating that they have already chosen Indra, the powerful giver of boons, as their lord.