Shloka 17

Garuḍa–Śakra Saṃvāda and the Retrieval of Amṛta (गरुड–शक्र संवादः अमृत-अपहरण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

कश्यप उवाच प्रजाहितार्थमारम्भो गरुडस्य तपोधना: । चिकीर्षति महत्कर्म तदनुज्ञातुमरहथ,कश्यपजी बोले--तपोधनो! गरुडका यह उद्योग प्रजाके हितके लिये हो रहा है। ये महान्‌ पराक्रम करना चाहते हैं, आपलोग इन्हें आज्ञा दें

Transliteration

Kaśyapa uvāca: prajāhitārtham ārambho Garuḍasya tapodhanāḥ | cikīrṣati mahat karma tad anu-jñātum arhatha ||

Translation

Kaśyapa said: “O you rich in austerity, Garuḍa’s undertaking is being begun for the welfare of living beings. He wishes to accomplish a great deed; therefore, you should deem it fit to grant him permission.”

Word by Word

कश्यपःKashyapa

उवाचsaid

प्रजा-हित-अर्थम्for the sake of the welfare of the subjects

आरम्भःundertaking; effort

गरुडस्यof Garuḍa

तपोधनाःO ascetics (those whose wealth is austerity)

चिकीर्षतिwishes to do; intends to do

महत्great

कर्मdeed; act

तत्that (act)

अनुज्ञातुम्to permit; to authorize

अर्हथyou all should; you are fit to

Speaker

कश्यप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kaśyapa

Garuḍa

tapodhanāḥ (ascetics/sages)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A major action should be grounded in the welfare of beings (prajā-hita) and undertaken with proper authorization and ethical sanction from elders or spiritual authorities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaśyapa addresses ascetics/sages, explaining that Garuḍa is initiating an enterprise meant for the common good and asks them to grant him permission to proceed with the great task.