Shloka 1
Garuḍa’s Assault on the Devas and the Fire-Barrier (अमृत-रक्षा-युद्धम्)
अपर अष्टाविशोश् ध्याय: गरुडका अमृतके लिये (2 और अपनी माताकी आज्ञाके अनुसार निषादोंका भक्षण करना सौतिरुवाच इत्युक्तो गरुड: सर्पैस्ततो मातरमब्रवीत् । गच्छाम्यमृतमाहर्तु भक्ष्यमिच्छामि वेदितुम्,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--सर्पोंकी यह बात सुनकर गरुड अपनी मातासे बोले--“माँ! मैं अमृत लानेके लिये जा रहा हूँ, किंतु मेरे लिये भोजन-सामग्री क्या होगी? यह मैं जानना चाहता हूँ"
Sautir uvāca—ity ukto garuḍaḥ sarpaiḥ tato mātaram abravīt: gacchāmy amṛtam āhartuṃ, bhakṣyam icchāmi veditum.
Sauti said: Thus addressed by the serpents, Garuḍa then spoke to his mother: “I am going to bring the nectar of immortality; but I wish to know what food is to be provided for me.” The verse frames Garuḍa’s resolve as obedience to his mother’s command while also raising an ethical question about the means—what he may consume on the way to fulfill a duty.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights duty performed in obedience to a rightful command (service to one’s mother), while also acknowledging that the means matter—Garuḍa seeks clarity about permissible sustenance, implying ethical restraint even in a high-stakes mission.
After hearing the serpents’ words, Garuḍa turns to his mother and declares he will fetch amṛta; before departing, he asks what food he should take, setting up the next events about his journey and what he may consume.