Shloka 20

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama

Devanagari script

शेषेणैवास्य कार्येण प्रज्ञास्याम्पहमायुष: । सुपर्णस्य विघाते च प्रयतिष्यामि सत्तम,'साधुशिरोमणे! तदनन्तर मैं अवशिष्ट कार्यद्वारा इसकी आयुके विषयमें जानकारी प्राप्त करूँगा और इस बातकी भी चेष्टा करूँगा कि गरुड़ इसे न मार सकें

Transliteration

śeṣeṇaivāsya kāryeṇa prajñāsyāmy aham āyuṣaḥ | suparṇasya vighāte ca prayatiṣyāmi sattama ||

Translation

Kaṇva said: “By completing what remains to be done in this matter, I shall ascertain the measure of his lifespan; and I will also strive to prevent Suparṇa (Garuḍa) from striking him down, O best of the good.”

Word by Word

शेषेणby the remainder; with what is left

एवindeed; only

अस्यof this (one); his

कार्येणby/with the task; by the act to be done

प्रज्ञास्यामिI shall know; I shall ascertain

अपहम्removal; taking away (sense uncertain here)

आयुषःof lifespan; of life

सुपर्णस्यof Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

विघातेin the obstruction; in the prevention (of harm)

चand

प्रयतिष्यामिI shall strive; I shall make effort

सत्तमO best of the good; O excellent one

Speaker

कण्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kaṇva

Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A responsible elder/ṛṣi does not remain passive before danger: he seeks clear knowledge (about lifespan and circumstances) and then actively strives to protect life, aligning effort with dharma even amid forces that seem fated.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaṇva declares that he will complete the remaining necessary steps to determine the person’s life-span and will also attempt to avert the threat posed by Suparṇa (Garuḍa), addressing someone respectfully as “best of the good.”