Shloka 43

Devanagari script

सौतिरुवाच श्रुत्वैतद्‌ वचन शक्र: प्रोवाचामृतरक्षिण: । महावीर्यबल: पक्षी हर्तु सोममिहोद्यतः,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--बृहस्पतिजीकी यह बात सुनकर देवराज इन्द्र अमृतकी रक्षा करनेवाले देवताओंसे बोले--'रक्षको! महान्‌ पराक्रमी और बलवान पक्षी गरुड यहाँसे अमृत हर ले जानेको उद्यत हैं

Transliteration

sautir uvāca śrutvaitad vacanaṃ śakraḥ provācāmṛtarakṣiṇaḥ | mahāvīryabalaḥ pakṣī hartu somam ihodyataḥ ||

Translation

Sauti said: Hearing these words, Śakra (Indra) addressed the gods appointed to guard the nectar of immortality: “Guardians! A bird of immense valor and strength is here, intent on carrying off Soma (amṛta).”

Word by Word

सूतिःSauti (Ugraśravas), the narrator

उवाचsaid

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

एतत्this

वचनम्speech, statement

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

प्रोवाचsaid, spoke forth

अमृतरक्षिणःto the guardians of the nectar

महावीर्यबलःof great prowess and strength

पक्षीthe bird (Garuḍa)

हर्तुम्to carry off, to steal

सोमम्Soma (nectar)

इहhere

उद्यतःready, intent, prepared

Speaker

कश्यप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sauti (Ugraśravas)

Śakra (Indra)

Amṛta (nectar of immortality)

Soma

Garuḍa (implied by 'pakṣī' of great strength)

Amṛta-guarding deities (amṛtarakṣiṇaḥ)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as guardianship of a sacred trust: those appointed to protect what sustains cosmic order must remain alert and act responsibly, even when confronted by overwhelming power.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the preceding counsel, Indra addresses the deities guarding amṛta/Soma, warning them that the mighty bird Garuḍa is poised to seize the nectar and urging them to defend it.