Shloka 21
गरुत्मान् वज़सदृशै: पक्षतुण्डनखैस्तथा । प्रहर्तुकामो न्यपतदाकाशात् कृष्णपाण्डवौ,एक गरुडजातीय पक्षी- वज्जके समान पाँख, चोंच और पंजोंसे प्रहार करनेकी इच्छा रखकर आकाशसे श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनकी ओर झपटा
garutmān vajrasadṛśaiḥ pakṣatuṇḍanakhaiḥ tathā | prahartukāmo nyapatad ākāśāt kṛṣṇapāṇḍavau ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Garutmān, with wings, beak, and talons like a thunderbolt, swooped down from the sky upon Kṛṣṇa and the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), intent on striking them. The scene underscores how even mighty beings, driven by sudden aggression or delusion, may rush toward violence—yet the presence of dharmic heroes frames the moment as a test of restraint, protection, and right response to unprovoked threat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sudden rise of hostile intent and the ethical demand placed on the righteous: to meet danger with discernment and restraint, protecting dharma without being swept away by impulsive violence.
A powerful Garuḍa-like bird (Garutmān), described with thunderbolt-like wings, beak, and talons, dives from the sky toward Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, intending to strike them.