Shloka 21
वज्ञस्थ च करिष्यामि तवैव च शतक्रतो । एतत् पत्र त्यजाम्येकं॑ यस्यान्तं नोपलप्स्यसे,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
vajrastha ca kariṣyāmi tavaiva ca śatakrato | etat patraṁ tyajāmy ekaṁ yasyāntaṁ nopalapsyase ||
Though struck by Indra’s thunderbolt, Garuḍa smiled and spoke gently: “O Śatakratu (Indra), I will certainly honor the great sage whose bones became this vajra. And I will honor you as well—together with your weapon. Therefore I relinquish a single feather, the end of which you will not be able to find.” The moment underscores reverence for sanctity behind power: even in conflict, one should respect the holy source of a weapon and restrain pride through courteous conduct.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power should be tempered by reverence and humility: even when opposed, one honors the sacred origins of strength (the sage’s sacrifice behind the vajra) and maintains courteous speech and self-restraint.
After being struck by Indra’s vajra, Garuḍa remains unshaken and respectfully addresses Indra, declaring he will honor both Indra and the holy source of the vajra; as a sign of respect and to end the clash, he voluntarily drops a single feather whose ‘end’ Indra cannot fathom.