Shloka 19
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 33: Vāsuki’s Council on Averting the Sarpa-satra
तमुवाचेन्द्रमाक्रन्दे गरूड: पततां वर:,विहंगप्रवर गरुडने उस युद्धमें वज्जाहत होकर भी हँसते हुए मधुर वाणीमें इन्द्रसे कहा --'देवराज! जिनकी हड्डीसे यह वज्र बना है, उन महर्षिका सम्मान मैं अवश्य करूँगा। शतक्रतो! ऋषिके साथ-साथ तुम्हारा और तुम्हारे वज़का भी आदर करूँगा; इसीलिये मैं अपनी एक पाँख, जिसका तुम कहीं अन्त नहीं पा सकोगे, त्याग देता हूँ
tam uvāca indram ākrande garuḍaḥ patatāṃ varaḥ | vihaṅgapravaro garuḍaḥ tasmin yuddhe vajrāhato 'pi hasan madhurayā vācā indram uvāca— “devarāja! yasyāsthibhir idaṃ vajraṃ kṛtaṃ, tān mahārṣīn ahaṃ avaśyaṃ saṃmāniṣye. śatakrato! ṛṣiṇā saha tvām api tava vajram api ca ādarayiṣye; tasmād ahaṃ ekaṃ pakṣaṃ tyajāmi, yasya tvaṃ kvacid antaṃ na prāpsyasi.”
Garuda, foremost among birds, cried out to Indra and—though struck by the thunderbolt in that battle—smiled and spoke in a gentle voice: “O king of the gods! I will certainly honor the great sages from whose bones this vajra was fashioned. O Shatakratu, along with the sage I will also respect you and your weapon; therefore I relinquish one of my wings—one whose end you will never be able to find.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent conflict, dharma requires honoring what is sacred: Garuda recognizes the thunderbolt’s sanctified origin (made from sages’ bones) and chooses respectful restraint, showing that reverence and ethical conduct can govern power.
During Garuda’s battle with Indra, Garuda is struck by the vajra yet remains unshaken and courteous. He declares he will honor the sages connected to the weapon and, to show respect toward Indra and the vajra, he voluntarily relinquishes a wing—one so vast that Indra cannot find its end.