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Shloka 21

Gālava Completes the Horse-Gift: Garuḍa’s Counsel and Viśvāmitra’s Acceptance (गालव-विष्वामित्र-सम्बन्धः)

उपस्थाय स तं विप्रो गालव: प्रतिगृह्म॒ च कनन्‍्यां प्रयातस्तां राजन्‌ दृष्टवान्‌ विनतात्मजम्‌

upasthāya sa taṃ vipro gālavaḥ pratigṛhya ca kanyāṃ prayātas tāṃ rājan dṛṣṭavān vinatātmajam

Nārada sprach: Nachdem der Brahmane Gālava vor jenen König getreten war, nahm er die Jungfrau wieder an sich und brach von dort auf. Dann, o König, als er seines Weges weiterzog, erblickte er Vinatās Sohn — Garuḍa.

उपस्थायhaving approached / having attended upon
उपस्थाय:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-स्था (धातु √स्था)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विप्रःthe brahmin
विप्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गालवःGālava
गालवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगालव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रतिगृह्यhaving received / having taken back
प्रतिगृह्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-ग्रह् (धातु √ग्रह्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कन्याम्the maiden
कन्याम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकन्या
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रयातःdeparted / set out
प्रयातः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-या (धातु √या)
Formक्त (past passive participle used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
ताम्her / that (maiden)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
दृष्टवान्saw / beheld
दृष्टवान्:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु √दृश्)
Formक्तवत् (perfective past active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
विनतात्मजम्Vinātā's son (Garuḍa)
विनतात्मजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविनता-आत्मज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

नारद उवाच

N
Nārada
G
Gālava
T
the king (rājan)
T
the maiden (kanyā)
V
Vinatā
G
Garuḍa (Vinatātmaja)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights dharmic reliability: one who is bound by a purpose (such as fulfilling a pledge or obligation) proceeds by proper conduct—approaching respectfully, receiving what is due, and moving forward without deviation—while remaining open to higher, divine interventions.

Nārada narrates that Gālava goes to the king’s court, receives the maiden back, departs, and on the road encounters Garuḍa, identified as Vinatā’s son—signaling a significant turn where a divine being enters the unfolding events.