Shloka 9
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 33: Vāsuki’s Council on Averting the Sarpa-satra
तयोरज्जे समाक्रम्य वैनतेयोन्तरिक्षग: । आच्छिनत् तरसा मध्ये सोममभ्यद्रवत् ततः,आकाशकमें विचरनेवाले महापराक्रमी विनता-कुमारने वेगपूर्वक आक्रमण करके उन दोनों सर्पोके शरीरको बीचसे काट डाला; फिर वे अमृतकी ओर झपटे और चक्रको तोड़- फोड़कर अमृतके पात्रको उठाकर बड़ी तेजीके साथ वहाँसे उड़ चले
tayor ajje samākramya vainateyo 'ntarikṣagaḥ | āchinat tarasā madhye somam abhyadravat tataḥ ||
Śaunaka said: Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā, coursing through the sky, rushed upon those two serpents and, by sheer speed, cut their bodies in the middle. Then he darted toward the Soma (amṛta); shattering the guarding wheel, he seized the vessel of nectar and flew swiftly away from that place.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vow-driven action and filial responsibility: Garuḍa’s extraordinary might is directed toward a specific duty (securing amṛta). It also invites reflection on ethical complexity—achieving a legitimate end can still involve violent, transgressive means that must be weighed against dharma.
Garuḍa attacks two serpents, slices them through the middle, then rushes to the amṛta (Soma), breaks through the protective wheel mechanism, seizes the nectar vessel, and escapes rapidly through the sky.