Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

अनुपमबलवीर्यतेजसो धृतमनस: परिरक्षणेडमृतस्य । असुरपुरविदारणा: सुरा ज्वलनसमिद्धवपु:प्रकाशिन:,उनके बल, पराक्रम और तेज अनुपम थे, जो असुरोंके नगरोंका विनाश करनेमें समर्थ एवं अग्निके समान देदीप्यमान शरीरसे प्रकाशित होनेवाले थे; उन्होंने अमृतकी रक्षाके लिये अपने मनमें दृढ निश्चय कर लिया था

Transliteration

anupama-bala-vīrya-tejasaḥ dhṛta-manasaḥ parirakṣaṇe ’mṛtasya | asura-pura-vidāraṇāḥ surā jvalana-samiddha-vapuḥ-prakāśinaḥ ||

Translation

Kāśyapa said: The gods were endowed with incomparable strength, valor, and radiance. Capable of shattering the cities of the Asuras and shining with bodies blazing like kindled fire, they formed an unshakable resolve in their hearts to guard the nectar of immortality.

Word by Word

अनुपमunsurpassed

बलstrength

वीर्यvalor, prowess

तेजसःof splendor/energy

धृतमनसःhaving firm resolve (lit. held mind)

परिरक्षणेin/for the guarding, protection

अमृतस्यof nectar (amrita)

असुरपुरविदारणाःdestroyers/sunderers of the cities of the Asuras

सुराःthe gods

ज्वलनसमिद्धवपुःप्रकाशिनःshining with bodies blazing like kindled fire

Speaker

कश्यप उवाच

Characters & Entities

क

कश्यप (Kaśyapa)

स

सुरा/देवाḥ (the Devas)

अ

असुराḥ (the Asuras)

अ

अमृत (Amṛta)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power (bala, vīrya, tejas) is ethically framed as a duty of protection: the Devas steady their minds (dhṛta-manasaḥ) and commit themselves to safeguarding amṛta, emphasizing disciplined resolve in service of a shared good.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaśyapa describes the Devas as blazing and formidable, capable of destroying Asura strongholds, and states that they have taken a firm inner vow to protect the amṛta (nectar of immortality).