Shloka 17
Garuḍa’s Assault on the Devas and the Fire-Barrier (अमृत-रक्षा-युद्धम्)
सौतिरुवाच ततः स मातुर्वचनं निशम्य वितत्य पक्षौ नभ उत्पपात । ततो निषादान् बलवानुपागतो बुभुक्षित: काल इवान्तको5पर:,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--शौनकादि महर्षियो! माताकी बात सुनकर महाबली गरुड पंख पसारकर आकाशमें उड़ गये तथा क्षुधातुर काल या दूसरे यमराजकी भाँति उन निषादोंके पास जा पहुँचे
Sautir uvāca—tataḥ sa mātur vacanaṃ niśamya vitatya pakṣau nabha utpapāta | tato niṣādān balavān upāgato bubhukṣitaḥ kāla ivāntako 'paraḥ ||
قال سوتي: لما سمع غارودا كلام أمه بسط جناحيه وارتفع إلى السماء. ثم، مدفوعًا بالجوع، مضى الجبار نحو النِّصادَة—كأنه الزمان نفسه، أو كأنه يَما آخر، جالبُ الموت.
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how compelling necessity (here, hunger and a mother’s command) can drive decisive action, making the agent appear like inevitable fate. It invites reflection on dharma under pressure—how power should be restrained, and how actions done from compulsion still carry moral weight.
After hearing his mother’s instruction, Garuḍa spreads his wings and takes flight. Hungry and formidable, he approaches the Niṣādas, described as resembling Time or a second Yama—signaling the terror and inevitability of his arrival for those he is about to confront.