Shloka 32
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
राजेन्द्र! तत्पश्चात् भगवानने अपने पैरके अँगूठेसे सुमुख नागको उठाकर गरुड़के वक्ष:स्थलपर रख दिया। तभीसे गरुड़ उस सर्पको सदा साथ लिये रहते हैं ।।
rājendra! tatpaścāt bhagavān anena pādāṅguṣṭhena sumukha-nāgaṃ utthāpya garuḍasya vakṣaḥsthale nyadhāt | tata eva garuḍaḥ taṃ sarpaṃ sadā saha bibharti || evaṃ viṣṇu-balākrānto garva-nāśam upāgataḥ | garuḍo balavān rājan vainateyo mahāyaśāḥ ||
O lord of kings! Thereafter the Blessed Lord, with the toe of His foot, lifted up the serpent Sumukha and placed him upon Garuḍa’s chest. From that moment Garuḍa has always carried that serpent with him. Thus, overpowered by Viṣṇu’s might, the mighty and greatly renowned Garuḍa—son of Vinatā—had his pride broken and abandoned his arrogance.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary power must be governed by humility: Garuḍa’s strength and fame are shown to be subordinate to Viṣṇu’s supreme authority, and pride (garva) is portrayed as something that must be relinquished for true greatness.
Viṣṇu lifts the serpent Sumukha with His toe and places him on Garuḍa’s chest; thereafter Garuḍa carries Sumukha always. This act simultaneously establishes a lasting association (Garuḍa bearing the serpent) and symbolically breaks Garuḍa’s arrogance through the overpowering force of Viṣṇu.