Shloka 5

Garuḍa’s Inquiry on Permissible Prey and Vinatā’s Counsel (ब्राह्मणावध्यता–उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

रुरुर्वाच किमर्थ भगवान्‌ सूर्यो लोकान्‌ दग्धुमनास्तदा

Transliteration

rurur uvāca kimarthaṁ bhagavān sūryo lokān dagdhumanās tadā

Translation

Ruru sprach: „Aus welchem Grund fasste die ehrwürdige Sonne damals den Entschluss, die Welten zu verbrennen?“

Word by Word

• रुरुः: Ruru
• रुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular

• किमर्थम्: for what reason? why?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + अर्थ

• भगवान्: the venerable one; Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूर्यः: the Sun
• सूर्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लोकान्: worlds; beings/people
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दग्धुम्: to burn
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह्
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun), Parasmaipada (usage)

• मनाः: mind; intention
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then; at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

युपर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ruru
• Surya (Sun-god)
• lokāḥ (the worlds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models ethical inquiry: when a cosmic power appears destructive, one should ask for the underlying cause and purpose, implying that even overwhelming force must be understood in relation to dharma and the maintenance of order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ruru asks why the Sun-god, described with reverence, was intent on burning the worlds at that moment—seeking an explanation for a potentially catastrophic divine action within the ongoing story.