Shloka 17
नारदेन गरुडात्मजानां नामकीर्तनम् | Nārada’s Enumeration of Garuḍa’s Descendants
मातलिस्त्वब्रवीदेनं भाषमाणं तथाविधम् | देवर्षे नैव मे कार्य विप्रियं त्रेदिवौकसाम्,तब ऐसी बातें करनेवाले नारदजीसे मातलिने कहा--*देवर्षे! मुझे कोई ऐसा कार्य नहीं करना चाहिये, जो देवताओंको अप्रिय लगे
mātalis tv abravīd enaṃ bhāṣamāṇaṃ tathāvidham | devarṣe naiva me kāryaṃ vipriyaṃ tredivaukasām ||
As Nārada spoke in that manner, Mātali replied: “O divine seer, it is not for me to do anything that would become displeasing to the dwellers of the three heavens—the gods.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not undertake actions that violate one’s rightful duty or that bring harm/displeasure to those one is accountable to; ethical action includes restraint and alignment with a higher moral/divine order.
Nārada has spoken in a particular way, and Mātali responds by stating his limitation and duty: he cannot do anything that would be displeasing to the gods (the dwellers of the three heavens).