Difference bettween Sarpas and Nagas.?

Question

In the 10th chapter of the Bagavad Gita (Vibuthi Yogam), in One sloka(28), the Lord says Iam "Vasuki" among the Sarpas. In the next(29) He says, Iam "Anatha(AdiSesha)" among the Nagas.
Dosent the term Naga and sarpa both represent Snakes. What is the difference?

There are different names to cobras, vipers and other snakes. but commonly all are known as sarpas and Nagas. I want to know the difference shown by the Lord. Morover Anantha and Vasuki are considered Divine Serpants, Much greater than our Cobras and Vipers.

Answer 1

I could see the definition for both Sarpas and Nagas are same i.e. Serpent. Serpents are larger species of snake often referred in Hindu mythology. I did not get more definition for these names. But while studying Bhagwad Gita verses, I find the meaning as – Sarpams are poisonous single headed serpents and Naganams are many headed non-poisionous serpents. Hence ANANTA on which Lord Maha Vishnu sleeps is non-poisonous Nagam and VASUKI, which served as the rope used to spin the world axis Mount Mandara and spitted venom (Which was drank by Shiva - Neelakanta), was a Sarpa.

The relevant verses of Gita and translation are given below:

In verse 28 Ch.10 -
http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-10-26.html

“ayudhanam aham vajrain dhenunam asmi kamadhuk
Prajanas asmi kandarpah ‘sarpanam’ asmi vasukih”

Translation – …”sarpanam – of poisonous single headed serpents (aham) asmi…I am ; vasukih .. Vasuki”….

In verse 29 of Ch. 10 -
http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-10-27.html

“anantas asmi naganam varuno yadasam aham
Pitrnam aryama asmi yamah samyamatam aham”

Translation – “ ‘naganam’…of the many headed non-poisonous serpents’ aham asmi …I am; anantah … the Divine Ananta”….. -

Answer 2

species difference is here. There is many species in Snakes like two mouth, Cobra, Azgar, etc.

Answer 3

COBRAS ARE NAGAS WHILE RATTLE SNAKES.VIPER
ARE SARPAS