Shloka 22
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
ततः स भगवांस्तस्य स्कन््धे बाहुं समासजत् । निपपात स भारार्तों विह्नलो नष्टचेतन:
tataḥ sa bhagavāṁs tasya skandhe bāhuṁ samāsajat | nipapāta sa bhārārto vihvalo naṣṭacetanaḥ ||
Then the Blessed Lord placed His arm upon Garuḍa’s shoulder. Overwhelmed by that weight, Garuḍa—distressed and shaken—fell down, his consciousness seeming to fail. The scene reveals the immeasurable majesty of the Divine, and the humility even the mightiest must learn before a power beyond mere strength.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary strength has limits before the Divine; true devotion includes humility and recognition that spiritual reality is not measured by physical power.
After speaking, the Lord places His arm on Garuḍa’s shoulder; the divine weight overwhelms Garuḍa, who collapses and becomes nearly unconscious.